PCA Expands International Outreach with New Asia Event

The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) is expanding its international activities with a new event in Asia while strengthening its focus on education and cooperation across the global premium cigar industry.

PCA Connect Asia

Following last year’s World Cigar Show in Dubai, the association is adding PCA Connect Asia to its international activities. The event is scheduled to take place in Hong Kong and Macau in late November and early December.

At InterTabac, the PCA is also promoting greater participation across international industry events, connecting the European market represented at InterTabac with its activities in the United States and other regions.

Education as a Priority

Education is another major focus for the association. Through its Cigar Academy, the PCA is developing new curricula and expanding its educational activities.

The association is also involved in a luxury marketing course at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami.

Greater International Cooperation

The PCA is increasingly working with cigar industry associations outside the United States. According to the association, communication and cooperation between organizations in the U.S. and other markets has developed considerably over the past five years.

This now includes attending each other’s events, sharing data and research, and coordinating on policy-related issues. At InterTabac, the PCA also participated in a session with ECMA discussing similarities and differences between the U.S. and EU from a policy perspective.

Looking Ahead

In the United States, the PCA says premium cigar import levels remain strong and that more cigar retailers are currently opening than closing. Following previous legislative and regulatory efforts together with Cigar Rights of America, the association now wants to invest further in initiatives designed to have a long-term impact on the industry.

The PCA also intends to continue bringing international industry participants together while strengthening the U.S. premium cigar market and its own international engagement.