At its establishment, the Minister for Economic Development was the lead minister for the
Ministry of Economic Development, which was established out of the former
Ministry of Commerce as part of the
Labour-
Alliance coalition agreement. From 1 July 2012, the Minister assumed responsibility for the new
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment following the merger of the Ministry of Economic Development with several other government agencies. The position was briefly renamed Minister for Economic and Regional Development after being merged with the standalone Regional Economic Development in 2020. In early 2023 the portfolio was split back into two, and its name reverted back to Minister for Economic Development. Similar ministerial roles under previous governments include the Minister for Enterprise and Commerce (1998–1999), the
Minister of Trade and Industry (1972–1988) and the
Minister of Industries and Commerce (1894–1972). ==List of ministers==