In an exclusive interview granted to Humo Latino prior to the start of the eighth edition of Fuego y Barrica, Christian Eiroa, CEO of CLE Cigar Company, confirmed that commitment and authorization from competent authorities are already in place for Honduras to launch a flagship international tobacco festival starting in January 2027, positioning it alongside major industry events such as Puro Sabor in Nicaragua, Procigar in the Dominican Republic, and the Habano Festival in Cuba.
In this regard, Eiroa believes that despite the smaller volume of companies established in the country—especially compared to major producers like the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua—the quality of its tobacco and highly productive workforce make Honduras a thriving hub for the industry, as evidenced by its strengthened presence in the U.S. market.
However, to foster deep roots and a sense of pride in Honduran cigars, hosting more and better tobacco events like Fuego y Barrica is essential, as is securing government backing to organize them and enact measures such as declaring tobacco the official state gift of the Central American nation.
Finally, he highlighted the Honduran industry’s growth and strong presence across the United States, Europe, China, the Middle East, and Africa, driven by companies like Scandinavian Tobacco Group, Davidoff, Altadis, Plasencia, Rocky Patel, My Father, Raíces Cubanas, Oscar Valladares, and, of course, CLE—all while keeping an eye on the future and a potential expanded footprint in South America, where Habano shortages have opened up investment opportunities that, while not yet underway, remain on the radar.
