Dominican company among winners of innovative products competition

One of the products of the company

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.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

25 Comments

  1. joan
    February 6, 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.

  2. Hm!
    February 5, 2012

    This is good for the new company. Continue to strive for higher heights. Hoping that your company will do well in the second round.

  3. Jane Messam
    February 5, 2012

    Very Well done Dominica. Job well done – it is so good to see us competing and winning. I LOVE DOMINICA

  4. plawey
    February 4, 2012

    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

  5. Roz
    February 3, 2012

    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.

  6. February 3, 2012

    Yes We Can!!! This is awesome! Congratulations!!!

  7. February 3, 2012

    Congratulations! This is awesome!

  8. Anonymous
    February 3, 2012

    Wow, what great news! This positive news is a breath of fresh air to Dominica. congratulations to Nature Island Products.

  9. DD
    February 3, 2012

    Congrats! I love your toilet paper. Keep up the good work.

  10. Richards
    February 3, 2012

    This is very welcoming news for Dominica’s economic potential status in the region and globally by extension. Keep the faith and fight on.

  11. Bawi Boy
    February 3, 2012

    Now will every supermarket in Dominica carry the product?

  12. Anonymous
    February 3, 2012

    Very good news for Dominica’s economic status in the region and globally by extension.

  13. Graduado
    February 3, 2012

    Congrats in order ,hats off to the Cuban training re rEEARCH -ORIENTED THOUGHTS,,continue to carry the flag high

  14. DMA member
    February 2, 2012

    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.

  15. praises
    February 2, 2012

    Good job Mc Kenzie and Co. keep up the good works.
    God Bless

  16. Objectivity
    February 2, 2012

    GREAT JOB! Good luck in the 2nd tranche.

  17. Jay
    February 2, 2012

    congrats;

  18. Anonymous
    February 2, 2012

    Wow. That’s excellent news. Positive things do come from the Nature Isle.

  19. NY, NY 10025
    February 2, 2012

    Congratulations. Hope that Nature Isle Products continue to progress and bring revenue to the country.

  20. FED UP DOMINICAN
    February 2, 2012

    Congratualtions Nature Island Products.

    We only buy Nature Island, and look forward to other products.

  21. THE DOMINICAN
    February 2, 2012

    Glad to see Dominica represented well in the region.

  22. Emerald Cool
    February 2, 2012

    CONGRATULATIONS Nature Island Products!!! for making it through the 1st round of competition.
    Mr. McKenzie a job well done,keep up the good work.

  23. Nice
    February 2, 2012

    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…

  24. Adult ED
    February 2, 2012

    Congratulations. Well deserved Good positive news! Good luck in the next round

  25. Just saying
    February 2, 2012

    Good work Servin! You are contributing to Dominica’s economic growth despite the challenges . May God continue to bless your business.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available