Habano Cigar Fest Draws Visitors from 70 Countries
BY JUAN VARELA PEREZ  - juan.pvp@granma.cip.cu - 

The 11th Habano Cigar Festival was opened on Monday at the Havana Convention Center by Raul de la Nuez, minister of Foreign Commerce.  

The event brings to the Cuban capital more than 1,000 participants from 70 countries including producers, experts, smokers, business people and researchers. 

As in past years the festival attracts numerous personalities, lovers of pure Cuban hand-rolled tobacco. Among this year’s guests is US actor Peter Coyote. 

One of the purposes of the event is to promote new brands —there will be three this year— that when distributed on a commercial scale try to satisfy one of the worlds most demanding markets in both quality and presentation.  

The program includes tours of famous Pinar del Rio tobacco growers, visits to tobacco factories, an international seminar, Habano sampling sessions, conferences and the always awaited Habanosommelier Contest. The organizers of the contest confirmed the presence of participants from Spain, Russia, Arab Emirates, Great Britain, Germany, France and Brazil.