Kazakhstan enters the cigar market

Surprising, but true – after France, Panama and Puerto Rico, we have another addition to the cigar landscape, and one that, surely, nobody expected. According to Itar-Tass, the testing is finished and Gaziz Batoev, head of KazTabak Inc., just announced that the experimental 10 hectares of land west of Qostanay, near the Russian border, will be planted in 2010 with the specially designed Cuban seed, Corojo 2005, a hybrid that resists wind and cold characteristic of the region. “Our population becomes richer and richer thanks to oil, gaz and uranium revenue”, says Batoev, chewing on a Montecristo Edmundo. “We are in need of luxury products and premium hand-made cigars will definitely be welcome in our country, especially if they are grown here”. While Batoev seems confident and claims he will make Kazakhstan the 5th producing country within 10 years, I honestly doubt the success of this venture. What do you think?