Jember Regent Announces Cigar Products Have Reached 45 Countries

Jember, East Java (ANTARA) - The Regent of Jember, Muhammad Fawait, stated that cigar products from Jember Regency, East Java, have successfully penetrated 45 countries, as the administration aims to establish the region as the largest cigar export market in Indonesia.

“Our products have reached almost 45 countries, including recent shipments to the United States, the Middle East, Europe—such as Greece and Germany—as well as China and the ASEAN region,” he said during a visit to PT Boss Image Nusantara (BIN Cigar), one of the largest cigar producers in Jember, on Saturday.

According to him, the Jember Regency Government continues to accelerate the downstreaming of local tobacco commodities to increase value-add and the export competitiveness of the region.

The Regent, affectionately known as Gus Fawait, noted that Jember currently hosts at least six cigar manufacturers. Of the total production generated, approximately 90 per cent is focused on the international market.

In addition to driving the acceleration of the downstream industry, the Jember Regency Government is paying special attention to the welfare of tobacco farmers. The local government has provided health insurance and social security (BPJS Ketenagakerjaan), and plans to provide supporting agricultural infrastructure assistance.

“In addition to the tobacco and cigar sectors, Jember also relies on various other commodities that contribute to foreign exchange, such as coffee, edamame, chocolate, as well as various micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) craft products.”

Meanwhile, BIN Cigar Jember has successfully penetrated markets in 14 countries across key regions including Europe, the Americas, East Asia, and the Middle East, proving the global competitiveness of Indonesian cigar products.