Nature Island Products, a company based at the Canefield Industrial Estate, is among the winners of the first round of a competition for private sector businesses in the Caribbean that develop innovative products or services for export.
The company was among seven that emerged as winners out of a field of 150 companies from across the region that participated in the competition organized by Compete Caribbean called the Enterprise Innovation Challenge Fund (EICF). EICF offers matching grants to private sector businesses in the region.
Severin McKenzie, manager of Nature Island Products, told Dominica News Online that he was elated that his company managed to cross the hurdle of the first round and is looking forward to the second round of the competion.
“It is all about working hard and remaining focused,” he explained.
McKenzie said the company opened its doors in September 2010 and is now producing toilet paper for export and is looking forward to producing more paper products in the future. He pointed out that the company is presently employing 14 part time and full time staff.
According to Compete Caribbean, Nature Island Products was among the winners because it was able to “establish an eco-friendly paper product manufacturing enterprise able to make branded products for regional eco-tourism resorts/ sites.”
The winners of the first round will receive financial resources to complete an Innovative Business Plan and those selected in the second round will be eligible to receive up to US$500,000 in grants to implement the project.
The other winners of the first round of the competition are:
– Sun Palace Resorts (Jamaica): Diversifying a hospitality business to provide out-sourced home care services through the use of IT.
– Cellphone Company (St Lucia): Start-up to manufacture first global 4 SIM/Number, all frequency unlocked cellphone.
– Tijule Company Limited (Jamaica): Diversifying an agro-processing company to extract oils from ackees to develop value added products (soap etc) in local and export markets.
– Maritime Transport Cluster (OECS): To create a networking platform to optimise freight services and reduce cost throughout the Caribbean Basin.
– Treasure Beach (Jamaica): Expand a community tourism initiative
– Chocolate Factory (Trinidad): Develop a chocolate processing plan to increase domestic value addition of cocoa derivatives in local community.
The winners were announced by the Alan Duncan, UK’s Minister for International Development in Grenada recently.
Launched in Kingston, Jamaica in October last year, Compete Caribbean is implementing 29 projects to a total value of US$8 million, with a further US$6 million in pipeline for 2012.
well done sir now that we have this product we should limit the amt. we order from overseas so mr.mckense can hire more workers.
This is good for the new company. Continue to strive for higher heights. Hoping that your company will do well in the second round.
Very Well done Dominica. Job well done – it is so good to see us competing and winning. I LOVE DOMINICA
only twenty one comments for an achievement as big as this come on dominicans you can do better than that congrates to the nature isle for this important win all the best on the next round
I just picked up my twelve pack the other day. Way to go NIPP! Time to roll out the full line of paper towels and napkins for me to be rolling NIPP all the way.
Yes We Can!!! This is awesome! Congratulations!!!
Congratulations! This is awesome!
Wow, what great news! This positive news is a breath of fresh air to Dominica. congratulations to Nature Island Products.
Congrats! I love your toilet paper. Keep up the good work.
This is very welcoming news for Dominica’s economic potential status in the region and globally by extension. Keep the faith and fight on.
Now will every supermarket in Dominica carry the product?
Very good news for Dominica’s economic status in the region and globally by extension.
Congrats in order ,hats off to the Cuban training re rEEARCH -ORIENTED THOUGHTS,,continue to carry the flag high
Congratulations to you Severin. The NIPP team and yourself are making us proud. What we need is having sucessful examples of what we Dominicans can achieve when we dare to invest, employ people and are not completely discouraged by the difficulties of doing business at home.
Good job Mc Kenzie and Co. keep up the good works.
God Bless
GREAT JOB! Good luck in the 2nd tranche.
congrats;
Wow. That’s excellent news. Positive things do come from the Nature Isle.
Congratulations. Hope that Nature Isle Products continue to progress and bring revenue to the country.
Congratualtions Nature Island Products.
We only buy Nature Island, and look forward to other products.
Glad to see Dominica represented well in the region.
CONGRATULATIONS Nature Island Products!!! for making it through the 1st round of competition.
Mr. McKenzie a job well done,keep up the good work.
Way to go McKenzie, this is one man who is taking a chance and doing something besides just talking..I am proud of you…big up and continued sucess…
Congratulations. Well deserved Good positive news! Good luck in the next round
Good work Servin! You are contributing to Dominica’s economic growth despite the challenges . May God continue to bless your business.