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The Indo-Pacific Development Centre

The Indo-Pacific Development Centre (IPDC) is a policy research centre at the Lowy Institute dedicated to generating fresh policy insights and ideas on the most pressing economic development issues in the Indo-Pacific region. The IPDC focuses on key challenges facing emerging and developing economies in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and South Asia as well as the role of more advanced Indo-Pacific economies such as Australia, the United States, Japan, China, and others in helping shape the future economic development of the region.

The work of the IPDC is organised around six key themes:

  • Post-Covid recovery, growth and development
  • Climate finance and decarbonising development
  • Technology and the digital economy
  • Globalisation and regional integration
  • The future of international development finance
  • Geoeconomics and the intersection of development and security

As part of its development finance pillar, the IPDC houses the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Aid Map, a digital interactive that tracks all official development finance flows to the Pacific region.

The IPDC has been established with the support of multi-year funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Featured projects

Southeast Asia Aid Map
Southeast Asia Aid Map
New interactive tracking more than 100,000 development projects, the most comprehensive assessment of development flows in Southeast Asia ever undertaken.
Pacific Aid Map 2022
Pacific Aid Map 2022
Updated research shows the unprecedented disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Pacific Islands region caused upheaval in how international donors provide aid.
Experts
Latest publications
News and media
Lowy Institute Lead Economist; Director, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Deputy Director, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Research Associate, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Research Fellow, Pacific Aid Map
Research Associate, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Research Fellow, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Research Fellow, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Research Associate, Southeast Asia Aid Map
Research Fellow, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Nonresident Fellow, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
China may have already won the global race
Commentary
China may have already won the global race
Originally published in Nikkei Asia
Comparing Chinese and Australian aid in Tonga: Visibility, pageantry and performance
Comparing Chinese and Australian aid in Tonga: Visibility, pageantry and performance
Australia is Tonga’s largest aid partner but on the ground in the capital Nuku’alofa it certainly doesn’t feel that way. “China Aid” logos adorn trucks and public buildings,…
Trapped in debt: China’s role in Laos’ economic crisis
Analyses
Trapped in debt: China’s role in Laos’ economic crisis
Laos is trapped in a severe debt crisis with no resolution in sight, threatening a decade of economic and social malaise. This Analysis examines the drivers of the Lao debt crisis…
Troubled waters, polluted skies: Will a global shipping tax finally take off?
Troubled waters, polluted skies: Will a global shipping tax finally take off?
This month, member countries to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations body responsible for regulating international shipping, will negotiate on a long…
Paris without Trump: A win for the planet?
Paris without Trump: A win for the planet?
It is astounding what Donald Trump gets away with by using a ball pen and some ink. But it came as no surprise that immediately on returning to office Trump signed an executive…
Australian aid budget 2025: Choices on hold
Australian aid budget 2025: Choices on hold
The big question for Australia’s pre-election aid budget released this week was how it would respond to a global development landscape in turmoil. Deep aid cuts by the United…
The Philippines walks a tightrope with Chinese aid
The Philippines walks a tightrope with Chinese aid
At last week’s Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, the Philippines’ Armed Forces Chief didn’t mince words, calling on India and South Korea to join an Indo-Pacific “Squad” to push back…
Made in Vietnam or a backdoor for Chinese exports?
Made in Vietnam or a backdoor for Chinese exports?
Vietnam was one of the biggest beneficiaries of the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump during his first term. This time, Vietnam could be among the biggest casualties. Trump’s first…
Indonesia’s EV gamble: Green on the surface, dirty underneath
Indonesia’s EV gamble: Green on the surface, dirty underneath
Demand for cars powered by fossil fuels has already peaked. Electric cars are taking over. In Indonesia, leaders gambled they could propel the country into global electric vehicle…
ABC The World Today
11 April 2025
Australian Financial Review
17 February 2025