Nisa’s state-of-the-art press facilities |28 June 2021

The Nisa business plan makes provision for diversification to allow the agency to raise funds to service the loan from its own newspaper and printing operations.

When Nisa was created in 2010 as a non-budget dependent agency, it began looking for ways to bring about greater efficiency in the production of the newspaper, which is an essential public service. Printing costs represent 60% of expenditures.

Under the chairmanship of Rene Morel and chief executive Merline Volcère, Nisa started printing the Seychelles NATION newspaper on the night of May 17, 2015 when it opened its state-of-the-art press facilities at the Bois de Rose.

The new printing facilities have been operating under the business name ‘Nisa Press’.

Before that, the Seychelles NATION newspaper was printed by Printec Press Holdings.

By printing its own newspaper since May 2015, Nisa has been making substantial savings in printing costs. Before the setting up of Nisa Press, the printing of the Seychelles NATION newspaper was outsourced and costs kept spiralling. During the first four months of 2015 the costs had almost doubled compared to 2013/2014 (representing 60% of expenditures).

Although the facilities are primarily for the printing of the Seychelles NATION newspaper, NISA Press has a commercial orientation and has been doing other printing jobs.

All the equipment, including the four-colour Speedmaster printing machine from Heidelberg, Germany, and a computer-to-plate processor, are brand new.The new equipment has helped to revamp the local printing industry, following the introduction of desktop technology by the Seychelles NATION in 1994. The computer-to-plate processor replaced the computer-to-film technology which had become obsolete. The new equipment is a big boost to the printing industry in Seychelles as it has added capacity and brought new technology into Seychelles. It thus secures the sustainability of the printing of the national newspaper for the foreseeable future.

By printing its own newspaper since May 2015, Nisa has been making substantial savings in printing costs.

In total, Nisa spent some R25 million to procure equipment, refurbish the building, train personnel and pay for technical assistance from overseas. Funding of the project consisted of a R20 million loan from Nouvobanq and accumulated reserves of the agency since its setting up in May 2010.

The Nisa Press is being manned by a full force of young Seychellois who have a vested interest in your printing needs. All the Seychellois technicians have followed training in Reunion and Mauritius as well as locally.

In an interview with the media on January 14, 2016 when former President James Michel visited the facilities, Nisa’s first chief executive Merline Volcère said although the facilities are primarily for the printing of the Seychelles NATION newspaper, Nisa Press has a commercial orientation and is willing to do other printing jobs.

She added that the investment in a new machine and latest technology is a big boost to the printing industry in Seychelles.

“It adds capacity, brings new technology into Seychelles, and manages costs. It secures the sustainability of the printing of the national newspaper for the foreseeable future,” said Ms Volcère.

She added that “Nisa has been making substantial savings in printing costs of the Seychelles NATION newspaper and continues to maintain an affordable price for newspapers for consumers”.

She pointed out that the development of the printing project was one of the objectives of the agency and part of its five-year strategic plan 2010-2015.

When Nisa was created in 2010 as a non-budget dependent agency, it began looking for ways to bring about greater efficiency in the production of the national newspaper.

Nisa Press specialises in both offset and digital printing.

Its graphic design team can customise customers’ projects from scratch. It can also take customers’ artwork and design concepts to complete the prepress work which includes making sure no text block is out of alignment, no colour is amiss, no image is out of proportion and finally file conversion and digital output on a printing plate that contains image of the content that needs to be printed. This is thanks to the state-of-the-art computer to plate processor.

Since Nisa Press’ four-colour SM74 Speedmaster printing machine is paired with the state-of-the-art computer to plate system, its printing team can handle large printing quantities and offer simple 1 colour flyers, to full four-colour booklets, calendars, posters, magazines, and more!

In 2020, Nisa ventured into the production of stationery materials like exercise books (line and square), notebooks in both A4 and A5 sizes, and charts.

As for digital printing, it gives NISA the opportunity to cater for customers seeking short runs and personalisations.

Nisa Press also has a finishing section which is also key to delivering quality products. The creasing and perfect binding machines are the best in the country.

The agency is also looking into procuring other printing machines and finishing equipment so as to enhance the quality of our products and to ensure fast and efficient delivery.

“At NISA we ensure all our customers get outstanding results from beginning to end. This is why we appreciate all of our customers, and greatly value our relationships with them. Our customers will always be treated like number one. We also stand behind our quality, price, delivery and customer care,” said NISA deputy chief executive Thelma Estico.

She added: “We're forward thinking and do our best to expand our product line. Whenever we can we invest in the latest equipment to satisfy the needs of our customers. Our customers trust us because they know that we will do their jobs right and deliver on time.”

By Gerard Govinden