Juan Carlos Hernandez, president of the Santiago Commerce and Production Chamber, says that cigar exports lead free zone exports in Santiago. He called Santiago the world capital of handmade and premium machine-made cigars for the past 10 years.
People in the Cibao have been making cigars from locally grown tobacco for over 200 years. Over the past 60 years, production and exports have skyrocketed. The Dominican Republic today exports around 1 billion cigars a year. From January to October 2019, exports were US$664.55 million, according to statistics from the National Council of Export Free Zones (CNZFE).
Coming up is a major cigar smoking promotional event. ProCigar is the leading annual event to promote cigar industry in the country. This year events are programmed with stays at Casa de Campo and visits to the Tabacalera de García Cigar Factory in La Romana. This part of the festival is 16 to 18 February 2020.
Participants are then taken to Santiago for cigar field and factory tours from 18 to 21st February. There will be dinner parties and smoking of premium cigars during all activities. Lodging is offered at the Hodelpa Gran Almirante, Hodelpa Garden Court or Hodelpa Centro Plaza.
30 January 2020