Commercial Diplomacy to Increase Exports of Lampung Cocoa Commodities in the European Union Market

— Cocoa is one of Lampung's leading commodities. Lampung Province is currently actively carrying out commercial diplomacy activities, especially to increase exports of superior commodities to various countries. Lampung's cocoa exports are expected to increase in the international market, one of which is to countries in the European Union. Countries such as Switzerland, Germany, England, and Ireland are potential markets for Lampung to expand its business through cocoa or chocolate. This study aimed to analyze how commercial diplomacy is carried out both at local and global levels to increase cocoa commodity exports in the European Union market. This study used a qualitative approach. This study described the process related to commercial diplomacy to increase exports of Lampung cocoa in the European Union market. The results of the study provided an overview of the importance of commercial diplomacy to achieve economic interests in the export of cocoa commodities. Diplomacy at the local level that has been carried out by the Lampung Provincial Government, through the Department of Industry and Trade, consists of: carry out trade promotions by sending cocoa samples to several countries; engage business actors to take part in exhibitions; holding Focus Group Discussion (FGD) activities on the Acceleration of Trade Negotiations; conduct Export Coaching for export-oriented Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); and cooperate with the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Indonesia. Meanwhile, diplomacy at the global level that has been carried out by the Government of Indonesia consists of: commercial diplomacy at the central government level carried out through Indonesia-the European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) to reduce cocoa tariffs in Europe while increasing consumption of Indonesian processed cocoa in the region; Indonesia becomes a member of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) in order to gain easy access to lobby European Union countries to reduce import duty on processed cocoa to 0%; and Indonesia's cocoa diplomacy in the world's largest chocolate exhibition, Salon du Chocolat in Paris, France.