Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO)

The Institute of Developing Economies (IDE) aims to make intellectual contributions to the world as a leading center of social science research on developing regions. The IDE accumulates locally-grounded knowledge on these areas, clarifies the conditions and issues they are facing, and disseminates a better understanding of these areas both domestically and abroad. These activities provide an intellectual foundation to facilitate cooperation between Japan and the international community for addressing development issues.

The IDE conducts research on economic, political and social issues in developing countries. Through its research activities, the IDE contributes to supporting Japan's expansion of harmonious trade and investment, and provision of international economic cooperation focusing on developing economies.

With the aim of providing an intellectual base to the world through its research activities, the IDE conducts some 50 research projects annually, ranging in scope from basic to comprehensive. Based on in-depth analyses of research findings, the IDE makes policy recommendations towards promoting trade expansion and economic cooperation in developing regions.

IDE research centers on economic development and sustainable growth in developing countries, not only in East and Southeast Asia but also in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Oceania, and Eastern Europe, and focuses on strengthening economic ties between Japan and these countries. By drawing on the combined expertise of outside experts and the institute's own experienced staff, as well as conducting field surveys and joint research with foreign institutions, IDE studies address developing-economy policies and key international issues, often from the perspective of Japanese economic cooperation.

The IDE enriches its research work by hosting visiting researchers from overseas, collaborating with domestic and foreign researchers, organizing international symposiums, dispatching IDE staff overseas, and making presentations at international academic conferences. Through these efforts, the IDE serves as a unique foundation for sharing and promoting research on developing countries.

The IDE has been conducting joint research with the WTO, the results of which were published in 2011 under the title of "Trade patterns and global value chains in East Asia: From trade in goods to trade in tasks" . The report is highly praised for becoming a potential milestone giving great momentum to trade policies around the world, and the WTO and the IDE co-hosted the second international symposium on global value chains in 2013.

The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) is an international organization engaged in analyzing regional issues, policymaking and making recommendations for policy implementation, aimed at furthering East Asia's economic integration. The institute was officially established in June 2008, at the inaugural meeting of the ERIA Governing Board held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta. Its establishment was officially endorsed in the "Chairman's Statement" of the 3rd East Asia Summit (Singapore, November 2007). IDE conducts research and studies to support ERIA's activities.

IDE study results are disseminated through diverse channels, including publications, lectures and seminars. In addition to a growing list of academic reports and introductory books aimed at the general public, the institute also offers selected titles in English through overseas publishers, in order to reach a wider international audience.

Every year the IDE organizes international symposia in Japan inviting prominent researchers from around the world, as well as seminars at universities and institutes abroad, to discuss global issues. The latest information on these events, as well as updates on developing countries and profiles of IDE researchers, is available on the website. The IDE makes the full text of discussion papers and reports available on the internet, in order to publicize as much information as possible.

The IDE Library houses one of the world's largest collections of information on the economic, political and social conditions of developing countries, comprising some 4,000 newspaper and periodical titles, over 54,000 maps and 640,000 titles devoted to general academic research materials and statistics on foreign countries, and multitudes of reports from foreign research institutes and international agencies. The library is open to anyone wishing to use library resources and reference service. The library operates a satellite office in the JETRO Business Library (Tokyo), which offers a delivery service for IDE Library books. The IDE Digital Archives provides access to full texts of IDE publications and rare materials from library collections.

As part of the IDE's efforts to build a knowledge base and foster human resources in developing countries, the IDE Advanced School (IDEAS) works to nurture experts in the field of socio-economic development. The IDEAS provides educational programs for Japanese and overseas fellows, with maximum opportunity for participants to work together to achieve higher goals. IDEAS graduates have assumed major roles in international agencies, domestic and international economic cooperation agencies, and development assistance projects in developing countries, utilizing the knowledge and skills gained and personal relationships made as IDEAS fellows.