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Nicaragua, a worldwide leader of the cigar industry
By Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados
According to the Cigar Association of America yearly report, Nicaragua was the largest supplier of premium cigars to the United States in 2017, surpassing the Dominican Republic for the second year in a row. “Last year, a little more than 148 million premium cigars made in Nicaragua came into the United States, nearly 30 million more than the Dominican Republic, which exported 118.5 million premium cigars to the U.S. market”, says the report.
The BBC recounts that by the year 2000 Nicaragua was “still not among the three main cigar producers in the world”. A huge change was possible thanks to a combination of public and private policies, and the benefits of its geography.
Nicaraguan cigars gained top world quality as tobacco companies improved their infrastructure, technology and knowledge about the tobacco leaf, complemented by a nutrient and mineral rich volcanic soil and a near perfect tropical weather with lots of sunlight, warm temperature and rainfall stability.
“Besides the country’s natural gifts, obacco leaf producers as a raw material invested for several years in technological developments with harvesting techniques that allow to have a leaf with a flavor, aroma and complexity that no other leaf in the world can provide”, Juan Ignacio Martínez, Vice President of the Nicaraguan Chamber of Tabacaleros, said to the BBC.
Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados
GUY JOSE BENDAÑA GUERRERO & ASOCIADOS has a long and prosperous tradition in the field of intellectual property (IP) in Nicaragua, with roots that go back to more than 100 years, resulting on long-term relationships with renowned clients and attorneys worldwide.
The firm has its origins in the law firm Henry Caldera & Henry Caldera-Pallais, founded in 1907 by Mr. Henry Caldera. That same year of 1907, through the efforts of Mr. Caldera, Nicaragua had its first Trademark Law. In the late 1930’s, Mr. Caldera’s oldest son, Dr. Henry Caldera-Pallais, after studying law in Nicaragua, attended the University of Michigan, where he graduated as a Registered U.S. Patent Attorney. Dr. Caldera-Pallais in 1964 was a founding member of the Interamerican Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI), the first regional intellectual property organization in the Americas. The firm continued to grow during the administration of Dr. Franklin Caldera, son of Dr. Caldera-Pallais, who obtained his doctoral degree in law from the Universidad Centroamericana in 1973.
Since 1985 the current partners, Dr. Guy José Bendaña Guerrero and Mrs. Blanca Aragón de Bendaña, took over the management of the firm. Dr. Bendaña Guerrero, Director of the firm, has distinguished himself as one of the most respected authorities in Central America in the field of intellectual property and law in general, being the author of several books such as “Course of Industrial Property Law”, “Study of the new Laws of Industrial Property” and “New Study of Contracts “, among others. Mrs. Aragón de Bendaña has served as the firm’s general manager and, thanks to her excellent management, the firm has been in constant growth, with a highly qualified staff committed to excellence. Since 1996, partner Julián José Bendaña Aragón joined the firm, and has been standing out as one of the most recognized attorneys in the field of intellectual property.
We have adapted to the constant change of the business world, supporting our clients in finding the most appropriate legal solutions for each moment. The firm distinguishes itself by understanding the needs of its clients, offering personalized service and adding value to its activities.
Nowadays we continue to be the leading firm in Nicaragua in the area of intellectual property, and at the same time, we have been consolidating other areas of service within the civil, commercial and labor fields, as well as litigation and consulting in general. The firm is well positioned to guarantee a pragmatic service that meets the requirements of the most demanding clients.
