This special report examines Japan’s role in the evolving Indo-Pacific regional order. This report brings together a diverse mix of authors, with a variety of perspectives, to offer analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing Japan’s economic, security, and diplomatic role in the Indo-Pacific.

PNG Prime Minister, James Marape, has a vision of turning PNG into the “food basket of Asia.” While PNG has developed palm oil, coffee, cocoa and copra export industries, this report argues that expanding into the production of other export commodities is likely to be difficult.

Given the complexity of the coalition, Indonesia’s economic policies in Jokowi’s second term may look like ‘more of the same’. Sustaining growth and maintaining economic stability will be the primary focus.

This report focusses on the vanilla sector in the Cook Islands, Niue and Samoa. The research highlights how the vanilla sector is being developed in these Pacific Island countries and the linkages that are being established to regional and/or international markets.

This draft report makes 30 recommendations to deal with the evident stresses in local government funding and financing, and to better align council and ratepayer interests.