127 graduates complete premium cigar manufacturing training; 72 already hired by industry companies
Santiago, Dominican Republic — The National Institute for Technical and Vocational Training (INFOTEP) and the Association of Dominican Cigar Manufacturers (PROCIGAR) certified the first 127 participants to complete the programs of the Tamboril Tobacco School on June 30th. The school was inaugurated in January 2026 to address the demand for qualified personnel in the Dominican tobacco industry.
Of the graduates, 72 have already been hired by companies in the sector, while an additional 20% will soon enter the workforce. Companies that have hired graduates include La Aurora, La Flor Dominicana, and Davidoff.
Program Scope and Curriculum
INFOTEP Deputy Director General Luis Manuel Rodríguez, representing Director General Maira Morla Pineda, noted that the class consists of 78 women and 49 men trained in premium handmade cigar manufacturing, tobacco crop pest management, customer service, personal development, and conflict management.
INFOTEP North Cibao Regional Director Desoaris de Aza announced the school will add a Handmade Cigar Manufacturing Operations program, along with training in emotional intelligence, entrepreneurship, personal finance, and gender-based violence prevention. De Aza credited support from the Dominican Tobacco Institute (INTABACO) and PROCIGAR member companies, whose material contributions sustain the program’s practical training.
Sector Leadership Statements
PROCIGAR President Ciro Cascella described the graduation as a step toward the craft’s generational renewal, stating that each certificate reflects a commitment placing the Dominican Republic at the top of the premium cigar industry. Cascella added that PROCIGAR member companies remain open to hiring future graduates.
Litto Gómez, the initiative’s driving force and former PROCIGAR president, urged graduates to practice the trade with commitment, noting that Tamboril is home to some of the country’s leading cigar rollers and that each cigar produced carries the Dominican Republic’s international prestige.
PROCIGAR Executive Director Agustín Fernández and INTABACO Director Iván Hernández also attended the ceremony, alongside government and business representatives from the sector.
Industry Context
The Dominican tobacco industry remains one of the country’s leading export sectors, with approximately 75 cigar factories, more than 122,000 direct jobs, and annual exports exceeding US$1.34 billion. Tamboril continues to stand as one of the world’s premier centers for premium cigar production, built on a century-old tradition and a workforce recognized internationally for its quality.
PROCIGAR, founded in 1992, unites the Dominican Republic’s leading cigar manufacturers under a shared commitment to excellence and authenticity.
Source: PROCIGAR press release, June 30, 2026.
