With over 300 attendees and an expert panel featuring cabinet secretaries, statesmen, international representatives, and top-tier producers from the global premium cigar industry, the eighth edition of Fuego y Barrica in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa solidified its standing as an ever-expanding, elevated gathering, spearheaded by Mayra UrquÃa, Director of Royal Eventos.
What began as an intimate gathering of just 30 people on an open-air terrace has evolved into a sensory journey designed to revitalize convention tourism in Tegucigalpa and showcase Honduran tobacco on the global stage. During the opening ceremony held at the Nave CarÃas Cultural Center in the heart of the capital, Mayra UrquÃa highlighted the cultural and economic resonance of tobacco in Honduras:
“Long before borders existed, the indigenous peoples of Copán recognized tobacco as a sacred plant intended for ceremonial and medicinal purposes. Deep within the roots of our land, this history took shape, later transformed by Spanish colonial rule into an economic power engine. In 1765, the establishment of the Renta del Tabaco marked a pivotal turning point, positioning Santa Rosa de los Llanos as a strategic commercial hub. Over the centuries, mastery was refined, and Honduran tobacco earned its rightful place on the international stage. Today, this legacy expands: Copán is our origin, and the Jamastrán Valley represents our consolidation as global benchmarks for premium cigars”.
She emphasized that Fuego y Barrica is not merely a celebration of a product, but of Honduras’ capacity to turn tradition into innovation, terroir into value, and heritage into the future—a sensory experience blending prestigious local and international brands, institutions, premium cigars and spirits, high-altitude coffees, and curated wines alongside fine gastronomy.
In her opening remarks, she noted that premium tobacco demands patience, likening it to a refined art form: “Behind every single cigar are the master hands of torcedores who, through absolute mastery of leaf tension, guarantee an unmatched standard of quality. Fine tobacco demands patience; it is a dialogue between nature and craftsmanship”.
Banco de Occidente: Standing with Tobacco Producers
During his address, Leonel Rivas, Corporate Manager of Commercial Strategy and Finance at Banco de Occidente—the event’s main sponsor—presented striking figures highlighting the sector’s socioeconomic weight: the tobacco industry directly supports over 25,000 jobs and generates upwards of $177 million in export revenues.
Rivas emphasized that the institution takes pride in accompanying the success stories of growers who, like Christian Eiroa—panelist on “The Honduran Tobacco Industry: Challenges and Opportunities”—elevate the nation’s standing on the world stage.
True to their corporate ethos, “Supporting today’s small producer creates tomorrow’s industry leader,” he reaffirmed Banco de Occidente’s commitment to serve as the financial engine helping local growers overcome hurdles and take the decisive leap into international commerce.
Commitment
For his part, the Mayor of Tegucigalpa, Juan Diego Celaya, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the tobacco sector, utilizing the platform to formally pledge municipal logistical and organizational backing for all upcoming tobacco events in Tegucigalpa.
“We want Tegucigalpa and Honduras to steal the spotlight,” stated the mayor, urging assembled investors, ambassadors, and international delegations to immerse themselves in the local historical heritage and the event’s curated photographic exhibition of the historic center from two centuries ago. “It is the perfect pairing of convention tourism, culture, and economic development”.
“Honduras Can Do It”
Eric Brimen, CEO of Próspera, celebrated the quality and export power of Honduran premium cigars as a prime example of the nation’s capacity to shine on its own merit.
“In this country, there is nothing to fear from the rest of the world, as Honduras is overflowing with export-quality talent and peerless business opportunities,” he noted. By joining the Fuego y Barrica ecosystem, the investment platform aims to build a strategic support bridge, enabling Honduran entrepreneurs and master rollers to bring their national brand to the world’s most competitive markets.
An Elite Tobacco Industry Panel
For the first time, Fuego y Barrica featured a high-level panel discussion titled “The Honduran Tobacco Industry: Challenges and Opportunities,” moderated by Ricardo Carioni, Director of International Affairs and Education at the Premium Cigar Association (PCA).
The panel brought together key public and private leaders, including Epaminondas Marinakys, Minister of Investment Promotion, who stressed the urgency of establishing a 24-month public-private agenda to streamline logistical bottlenecks. He highlighted a Fast-Track mechanism allowing new investors to launch operations swiftly upon meeting basic criteria.
Christian Eiroa, President of CLE Cigar Company, urged Honduras to become more business-friendly regarding customs and temporary free-trade zone processing, drawing direct comparison to Nicaragua’s 48-hour approval turnaround versus the months or years often required in Honduras.
Panelist Leonel Rivas, Corporate Manager of Commercial Strategy and Finance at Banco de Occidente, addressed the importance of financial literacy and corporate governance for unlocking competitive bank capital, while praising the indispensable role of women in fine cigar manufacturing due to their dexterity and precision.
Cigar entrepreneur Carlos Castillo, who also serves as President of the Danlà Chamber of Tourism, promoted the Tobacco Trail (Ruta del Tabaco) and advocated for formally integrating the heritage and technical expertise of this cultural asset into university tourism curricula across DanlÃ.
Finally, Ismael RodrÃguez Oliván, founder of the Tobacco Products Association, urged emerging boutique brands to plan their raw material inventories on a 3-to-4-year horizon to guarantee consistency. He extended a call to Honduran boutique cigar makers to join the association and streamline their export path to the United States.
