Santiago. The country’s tobacco industry and its derivatives, such as premium and machine-made cigars, had record exports last year, reaching US$1.236 billion, with a growth of more than US$200 million.
This increase was due to the demand for the product due to the shortage of Cuban cigars and the pandemic period, which caused many people to look to the aromatic leaf for emotional support and mental health, according to businessman Hendrik Kelner, president of the Association of Cigar Producers of the Dominican Republic.
The businessman interviewed Hoy reporters in the framework of the inauguration of the fifteenth version of the international Procigar Festival in Central Park here.