# Ministry of Business (Denmark)

The Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs (Danish: Erhvervsministeriet, lit. 'Ministry of Business') is a Danish ministry focused on business policy and economic growth. As of 2022, Morten Bødskov is its minister.
Within the Danish government, the ministry serving this function and occupying this position has changed names several times. Its current name was officially instated by Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in 2016.

## History

The Ministry of Commerce (Danish: Handelsministeriet) was first established in 1848 with the first cabinet of Denmark which effectively ended the nation's absolute monarchy. Christian Albrecht Bluhme served as the first minister of commerce from 22 March until 15 November, when the office was abolished within the second cabinet of Denmark.
A ministry of trade was not reestablished until 12 October 1908, when the Ministry of Commerce and Seafare (Danish: Ministeriet for Handel og Søfart) was formed. During this period, the ministry oversaw areas of trade and international shipping. In 1979, its name was changed to the Ministry of Industry (Danish: Industriministeriet). The ministry was briefly known as the Ministry of Industry and Business Co-ordination(Danish: Industri- og Samordningsministeriet) during the 1990s, before being renamed as the Ministry of Business in 1994.
In 2001, the ministry was merged with the Ministry of the Economy (Danish: Økonomiministeriet) and jointly became known as the Ministry of the Economy and Business (Danish: Økonomi- og Erhvervsministeriet). In 2011, the economic branch of the ministry was again split off as part of the independent Ministry of the Economy and Interior (Danish: Økonomi- og Indenrigsministeriet), and the trade ministry was reformed as the Ministry of Business and Growth (Danish: Erhvervs- og Vækstministeriet). In November of 2016, Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen again renamed the ministry. Today, it is known as the Ministry of Business (Danish: Erhvervesministeriet), though in English it is officially referred to as the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs.

## Organisation

The ministry is led by the Minister of Business, as well as the head of the department and the Permanent Secretary. As of 2023, the Ministry of Business oversees seven agencies as well as several state-owned enterprises, including The Danish Growth Fund and VisitDenmark. Its corresponding agencies are:
* Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen)
* Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanstilsynet)
* Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen)
* Danish Appeals Boards Authority (Nævnenes Hus)
* Danish Patent and Trademark Office (Patent- og Varemærkestyrelsen)
* Danish Safety Technology Authority (Sikkerhedsstyrelsen)
* Danish Maritime Authority (Søfartsstyrelsen)

## List of ministers

| No. | Portrait | Name (Born-Died) | Term | Term | Term | Political Party | Government |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born-Died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political Party | Government |
| Minister for Commerce (Handelsminister) ||||||||
| 1 | | Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866) | 22 March 1848 | 15 November 1848 | 238 days | Højre | Moltke I Cabinet |
| Minister for Commerce and Seafare (Minister for Handel og Søfart) ||||||||
| 2 | | Johan Hansen [da] (1861–1943) | 12 October 1908 | 28 October 1909 | 1 year, 16 days | Venstre Reform | Neergaard I Cabinet Holstein-Ledreborg Cabinet |
| 3 | | Wilhelm Weimann [da] (1868–1942) | 28 October 1909 | 5 July 1910 | 250 days | Social Liberals | Zahle I Cabinet |
| 4 | | Oscar B. Muus [da] (1847–1918) | 5 July 1910 | 21 June 1913 | 2 years, 351 days | Venstre | Berntsen Cabinet |
| – | | Jens Hassing-Jørgensen [da] (1872–1952) Acting | 21 June 1913 | 28 April 1914 | 311 days | Social Liberals | Zahle II Cabinet |
| 5 | | Christopher Hage [da] (1848–1930) | 28 April 1914 | 30 March 1920 | 5 years, 337 days | Social Liberals | Zahle II Cabinet |
| Minister for Commerce (Minister for Handel) ||||||||
| 6 | | Magnus Suenson [da] (1875–1955) | 30 March 1920 | 5 April 1920 | 6 days | Independent | Liebe Cabinet |
| 7 | | Hans Peter Prior (1866–1936) | 5 April 1920 | 5 May 1920 | 30 days | Independent | Friis Cabinet |
| 8 | | Tyge J. Rothe [da] (1877–1970) | 5 May 1920 | 9 October 1922 | 2 years, 157 days | Venstre | Neergaard II Cabinet |
| – | | Oluf Krag [da] (1870–1942) Acting | 9 October 1922 | 10 October 1922 | 1 day | Venstre | Neergaard III Cabinet |
| 9 | | Jørgen Christensen [da] (1871–1937) | 10 October 1922 | 23 April 1924 | 1 year, 196 days | Venstre | Neergaard III Cabinet |
| Minister for Industry, Commerce and Seafare (Minister for industri handel og søfart) ||||||||
| 10 | | Thorvald Stauning (1873–1942) | 23 April 1924 | 14 December 1926 | 2 years, 235 days | Social Democrats | Stauning I Cabinet |
| 11 | | Marius Slebsager [da] (1874–1962) | 14 December 1926 | 3 October 1928 | 1 year, 294 days | Venstre | Madsen-Mygdal Cabinet |
| – | | Thomas Madsen-Mygdal (1876–1943) Acting | 3 October 1928 | 6 October 1928 | 3 days | Venstre | Madsen-Mygdal Cabinet |
| – | | Johannes Stensballe [da] (1874–1956) Acting | 6 October 1928 | 30 April 1929 | 206 days | Venstre | Madsen-Mygdal Cabinet |
| 12 | | Christen Nielsen Hauge [da] (1870–1940) | 30 April 1929 | 4 November 1935 | 6 years, 188 days | Social Democrats | Stauning II Cabinet |
| 13 | | Johannes Kjærbøl (1885–1973) | 4 November 1935 | 8 July 1940 | 4 years, 247 days | Social Democrats | Stauning III Cabinet–IV–V |
| 14 | | John Christmas Møller (1894–1948) | 8 July 1940 | 3 October 1940 | 87 days | Conservatives | Stauning V Cabinet |
| 15 | | Halfdan Hendriksen [da] (1881–1962) | 3 October 1940 | 5 May 1945 | 4 years, 214 days | Conservatives | Stauning VI Cabinet Buhl I Cabinet Scavenius Cabinet |
| 16 | | Vilhelm Fibiger [da] (1886–1978) | 5 May 1945 | 7 November 1945 | 186 days | Conservatives | Buhl II Cabinet |
| 17 | | Jens Villemoes [da] (1880–1956) | 7 November 1945 | 6 September 1947 | 1 year, 303 days | Venstre | Kristensen Cabinet |
| 18 | | Axel Kristensen [da] (1895–1971) | 6 September 1947 | 13 November 1947 | 68 days | Venstre | Kristensen Cabinet |
| 19 | | Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978) | 13 November 1947 | 16 September 1950 | 2 years, 307 days | Social Democrats | Hedtoft I Cabinet |
| 20 | | Hans Christian Hansen (1906–1960) | 16 September 1950 | 30 October 1950 | 44 days | Social Democrats | Hedtoft II Cabinet |
| 21 | | Ove Weikop [da] (1897–1986) | 30 October 1950 | 13 September 1951 | 318 days | Conservatives | Eriksen Cabinet |
| 22 | | Aage L. Rytter [da] (1900–1961) | 13 September 1951 | 30 September 1953 | 2 years, 17 days | Conservatives | Eriksen Cabinet |
| 23 | | Lis Groes (1910–1974) | 30 September 1953 | 28 May 1957 | 3 years, 240 days | Social Democrats | Hedtoft III Cabinet Hansen I Cabinet |
| Minister of Commerce (Handelsminister) ||||||||
| 24 | | Kjeld Philip (1912–1989) | 28 May 1957 | 31 March 1960 | 2 years, 308 days | Social Liberals | Hansen II Cabinet Kampmann I Cabinet |
| 25 | | Lars P. Jensen [da] (1909–1986) | 31 March 1960 | 7 September 1961 | 1 year, 160 days | Social Democrats | Kampmann I Cabinet–II |
| 27 | | Hilmar Baunsgaard (1920–1989) | 7 September 1961 | 26 September 1964 | 3 years, 19 days | Social Liberals | Kampmann II Cabinet Krag I Cabinet |
| (25) | | Lars P. Jensen [da] (1909–1986) | 21 September 1966 | 1 October 1967 | 1 year, 10 days | Social Democrats | Krag II Cabinet |
| 28 | | Ove Hansen [da] (1909–1997) | 1 October 1967 | 2 February 1968 | 124 days | Social Democrats | Krag II Cabinet |
| 29 | | Knud Thomsen [da] (1908–1996) | 2 February 1968 | 11 October 1971 | 3 years, 251 days | Conservatives | Baunsgaard Cabinet |
| 30 | | Erling Jensen [da] (1919–2000) | 11 October 1971 | 6 December 1973 | 2 years, 56 days | Social Democrats | Krag III Cabinet Jørgensen I Cabinet |
| 31 | | Poul Nyboe Andersen [da] (1913–2004) | 6 December 1973 | 29 January 1975 | 1 year, 54 days | Venstre | Hartling Cabinet |
| (30) | | Erling Jensen [da] (1919–2000) | 29 January 1975 | 8 September 1976 | 1 year, 223 days | Social Democrats | Jørgensen II Cabinet |
| 32 | | Per Hækkerup (1915–1979) | 8 September 1976 | 26 February 1977 | 171 days | Social Democrats | Jørgensen II Cabinet |
| 33 | | Ivar Nørgaard (1922–2011) | 26 February 1977 | 30 August 1978 | 1 year, 185 days | Social Democrats | Jørgensen II Cabinet |
| 34 | | Arne Christiansen [da] (1925–2007) | 26 February 1977 | 30 August 1978 | 1 year, 185 days | Venstre | Jørgensen III Cabinet |
| Minister of Industry (Industriminister) ||||||||
| 35 | | Ib Stetter [da] (1917–1997) | 30 August 1978 | 12 March 1986 | 7 years, 194 days | Conservatives | Schlüter I Cabinet |
| 36 | | Nils Wilhjelm [da] (1936–2018) | 12 March 1986 | 2 December 1989 | 3 years, 265 days | Conservatives | Schlüter I Cabinet–II |
| 37 | | Anne Birgitte Lundholt (born 1952) | 2 December 1989 | 25 January 1993 | 3 years, 54 days | Conservatives | Schlüter III Cabinet–IV |
| 38 | | Jan Trøjborg (1955–2012) | 25 January 1993 | 28 January 1994 | 1 year, 3 days | Social Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet |
| 39 | | Mimi Jakobsen (born 1948) | 28 January 1994 | 8 February 1994 | 11 days | Centre Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet |
| Minister for Industry and Business Coordination (Industri- og samordningsminister) ||||||||
| (39) | | Mimi Jakobsen (born 1948) | 8 February 1994 | 27 September 1994 | 231 days | Centre Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet |
| Minister of Business Affairs (Erhvervsminister) ||||||||
| (39) | | Mimi Jakobsen (born 1948) | 27 September 1994 | 30 December 1996 | 9 years, 120 days | Centre Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II Cabinet |
| (38) | | Jan Trøjborg (1955–2012) | 28 January 1994 | 23 March 1998 | 4 years, 54 days | Social Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III Cabinet |
| 40 | | Pia Gjellerup (born 1959) | 23 March 1998 | 29 December 2000 | 2 years, 281 days | Social Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV Cabinet |
| 41 | | Ole Stavad (born 1949) | 21 December 2000 | 27 November 2001 | 333 days | Social Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV Cabinet |
| Minister of Economic and Business Affairs (Økonomi- og Erhvervsminister) ||||||||
| 42 | | Bendt Bendtsen (born 1954) | 27 November 2001 | 10 September 2008 | 6 years, 288 days | Conservatives | Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III |
| Minister of Business Affairs and Growth (Erhvervs- og Vækstminister) ||||||||
| 43 | | Lene Espersen (born 1965) | 10 September 2008 | 23 February 2010 | 1 year, 166 days | Conservatives | Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet |
| 44 | | Brian Mikkelsen (born 1966) | 23 February 2010 | 3 October 2011 | 1 year, 222 days | Conservatives | Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet |
| 45 | | Ole Sohn (born 1954) | 3 October 2011 | 16 October 2012 | 1 year, 13 days | SF | Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet |
| 46 | | Annette Vilhelmsen (born 1959) | 16 October 2012 | 9 August 2013 | 297 days | SF | Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet |
| 47 | | Henrik Sass Larsen (born 1966) | 9 August 2013 | 28 June 2015 | 1 year, 323 days | Social Democrats | Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet–II |
| 48 | | Troels Lund Poulsen (born 1976) | 28 June 2015 | 28 November 2016 | 1 year, 153 days | Venstre | Lars Løkke Rasmussen II Cabinet |
| Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs (Erhvervsminister) ||||||||
| (44) | | Brian Mikkelsen (born 1966) | 28 November 2016 | 20 June 2018 | 1 year, 204 days | Conservatives | Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet |
| 49 | | Rasmus Jarlov (born 1977) | 20 June 2018 | 27 June 2019 | 1 year, 7 days | Conservatives | Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet |
| 50 | | Simon Kollerup (born 1986) | 27 June 2019 | 15 December 2022 | 3 years, 171 days | Social Democrats | Frederiksen I Cabinet |
| 51 | | Morten Bødskov (born 1970) | 15 December 2022 | Incumbent | 1 year, 343 days | Social Democrats | Frederiksen II Cabinet |