Cuba today
In a recent blog (#490) I finished off with “the good, the bad and the lucky” effect the Pandemic has had on the economy and on much of the population of Cuba.
Simply put, the Pandemic caused so much trouble for the state workforce that the Government had to open more and more areas of economic activities to the private sector in order to keep the country running.
But it hasn’t only been the pandemic.
In fact, the policy of opening areas of economic activity to the private sector was started in 2010 by President Raul Castro who opened up 127 such activities, mainly in the Tourist Industry, the Restaurant Industry and in the Transportation sector.
These reforms were given a boost in 2014 when US President Obama tried to pursue a policy of normalised relations with Cuba.
Before the Pandemic hit Cuba, over 600.000 Cubans were officially self-employed (13% of the total workforce).
The plan now is to increase these numbers by lifting more restrictions on those areas suitable for small businesses to run – approximately more than 2000 areas.
To simplify this transition the Government will discard the list of 127 unrestricted areas, replacing it with a list of 124 areas which will be reserved for State Control.
Probably areas such as security, media, and health.
These decisions should be finalised this month (April 2021) at the next meeting of the Communist party.
Analysists and other pundits are cautiously optimistic that these new reforms, if correctly implemented, will increase employment opportunities and lead to a more fairly integrated economy overall.
The downside is that, badly as the island needs the return of Tourist and International business, since the airports were opened in November 2020 the reported cases of the virus infections has quadrupled – the airports have been closed again which will hamper economic growth.
I am not sure how all this will affect the cigar business, since this is densely concentrated on individual handwork, from planting the seeds to closing the box on 10 or 25 Robustos.
There was no Habanos Festival this year, but new developments in cigar blends and vitolas has continued.
 There has been the announcement of a new vitola in the Por Larrañaga brand.
This is the Galanes, with a size of 121mm x Ring 52. Pretty well a thick robusto.
If the size doesn’t sound familiar, that’s because it’s a new format in the Cuban size portfolio, so no other cigar from Cuba shares these precise dimensions. The factory name is also called Galanes.
The cigar was launched in Hong Kong, and has now reached Switzerland.
It is sold in wooden boxes of 10, and from the pictures the cigars look beautiful.
Let’s hope there will be some left over for us in South Africa.
The Robusto is still the most popular size in any brand as a recent survey in retail shops found.
And we still have some stock of the beautiful Spanish Cedar / Leather 3-cigar Cases.
These cases hold the robusto size comfortably, and will even fit the Por Larrañaga Galanes if they do arrive.
Ideal for carrying your cigars safely when you go out.
There are only a few manufacturers in the world, who can make Spanish cedar case of top quality, as two different type of craftsmanship are required: one for leather and the other for Spanish cedar. Precision in measurement and perfect hand work is critical, so that the case closes smoothly and yet when you hold the top, the bottom does not fall out.
To care for your cigars with winter coming, before putting them into the case, moisten the cedar with water –
very, very lightly!
A final note:
We have been notified that premium cigar prices have increased by around 9 % from April 1.
To minimise the price increases we will be “averaging” prices as we take in new stock.
If you would like to take advantage before the averaging starts - don’t wait, buy now.
Carry your cigars safely and enjoy them.
Colin Wesley
No.492 April 8-21, 2021
All previous blogs are archived in the Library, by date and by subject.
A visit will allow you to choose from any of the more than 400 blogs to read or re-read at your leisure.
Note:
By law, no South African citizen, living in South Africa can buy a tobacco product via the internet or postal system. In fact, you may not receive a tobacco product through the post.
In addition we may not receive payment through the internet for tobacco products.
We may only supply tobacco products within the trade – not to private individuals. The fine is substantial
Contact us for help in getting tobacco to your area.
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(ZAR)
