Honduran cigar vendors visit Taiwan, eye Asian markets

Taipei, July 21 (CNA) A group of cigar vendors from Honduras, one of Taiwan's diplomatic allies in Central America, is now in Taiwan to assess business opportunities in the country while eying the island as a gateway to emerging Asian markets, including China. Asia has emerged as a huge market for luxury goods such as wine and high-end leather, said Raxa-Tzel Leitzelar, manager of Don Humo Cigar Co., one of the cigar companies represented in the delegation.
... Luciano Stefani, representing the Lempira Puros company, expressed a similar view, adding that cigars from Honduras have an edge over the more popular cigars from Cuba because they are more affordable.
Oscar Valladares of Rockey Patel said that cigars from Cuba are losing ground in Europe and the U.S., ceding market share to products from countries such as Honduras, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Continued

Photo via Lamarde.com