The Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco has elected Manuel Ernesto Rubio Centeno, Operations Manager of Drew Estate, as the new president of the Chamber.
Rubio Centeno replaces Claudio Sgroi, who faced a difficult mandate under the Covid-19 pandemic and the decision to suspend two consecutive editions of the prestigious International Tobacco Festival “Puro Sabor.”
Manuel Rubio said in a statement that among his challenges in 2022 is “to sustain the growth rate of our industry, even exceeding 10% per year” and to reduce migration and personnel turnover.
He said he would also seek to “strengthen the role of the CNT internally and externally, that is, with our community and with our partners,” during his two-year term.
Despite the pandemic, the Nicaraguan premium tobacco industry is still strong as it has been able to maintain its production, fulfilling all its commitments to its customers and smokers around the world.
The chamber also announced a new board of directors:
Eduardo Sandino Aguilar, from Tabacalera Oliva de Estelí S.A., was elected vice president; Víctor Calvo Guerrero, from Tabacalera Tambor S.A., was elected secretary; the new treasurer is Doña Carmen Vázquez, from Estelí Cigars S.A. The first member is Néstor Andrés Plasencia, from Plasencia Cigars S.A.; the second member is Ariath Zeledón, from Scandinavian Tobacco Group Estelí S.A., and the third member is Sancho Oset, from Cigar Rings S.A.
The premium tobacco industry directly employs more than 40,000 people. The Nicaraguan Chamber of Tobacco is an organization established in 2008 that represents the interests of the most important tobacco and cigar producers in Nicaragua. Its 25 members represent 95% of the entire national production of tobacco and cigars.
