“Looking at our future vision and priorities, we have decided to end our membership with ProCigar,” explains the Swiss group, a founding member of the association.

Davidoff leaves the Dominican producers’ association Procigar, the Swiss group announced in a statement sent to L’Amateur de Cigare.

When asked by L’Amateur about the absence of visits to its plantations and/or factory from the Procigar Festival 2027 program, Davidoff pointed out that its Dominican subsidiary, Tabadom Holding “has been a very active and committed member for 34 years”. “However, looking at our future vision and priorities, we have decided to end our membership with ProCigar,” the Basel group continues.

“Looking at our company’s global vision and priorities, including the regulatory challenges we face in our 130 markets, we feel that we need to focus our strengths on our global priorities directly in the markets,” Oettinger Davidoff adds. “At the same time, we will continue defending our industry with the authorities in the many countries we are active in.”

“We deeply appreciate the years of collaboration, shared learning and mutual experiences and wish ProCigar and all its members greatest success in their future endeavours and in their continued efforts to defend the Dominican cigar and tobacco industry,” the Swiss group further writes.

Tabadom Holding and Davidoff no longer appear on the list of “members” on the Procigar website.

To date, the association of Dominican producers brings together 11 handmade cigar manufacturers (Arturo Fuente, La Flor Dominicana, La Aurora, General Cigar Dominicana (STG), Tabacalera Palma, Tabacalera de Garcia, Casa Carrillo, Quesada Cigars, De Los Reyes Cigars, PDR Cigars, and Arnold André) and also includes “strategic members” such as Boveda, the Dominican Tobacco Institute (INTABACO), and the Dutch cigar band printer Vrijdag.

Procigar is currently chaired by Ciro Cascella, CEO of Tabacalera Fuente. Hamlet Espinal, a vice president at the Swiss group, was elected secretary during the last renewal of the leadership team this past May.

The Procigar association was founded in 1992—spearheaded notably by Henke Kelner (who was manufacturing Davidoff cigars at the time)—to promote Dominican handmade cigars. Since 2008, it has organized an annual festival that brings together hundreds of enthusiasts and professionals for tours, seminars, and festive evening events.

Edit: In a press release sent on Sept. 8, Procigar “acknowledges Tabadom Holding’s formal notification regarding the conclusion of its membership in the Association” and “respects this corporate decision.” Procigar “stands united, solid, and focused on the future, driving forward the culture and legacy that have made the Dominican Republic the Cigar Capital of the World.”

Laurent Mimouni (with Daniela Cruz Gil, correspondent in the Dominican Republic)