Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman

The Finns Party

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment

Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman is responsible for matters of the Innovations and Enterprise Financing Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The Department is responsible for innovation policy, special public funding and export financing policy, mineral policy, internationalisation policy of business and industry, tourism coordination and promotion of foreign investments. The Department is also in charge of the development of the business subsidy system and space policy.

Rydman is also responsible for security of supply issues and, within the Regions and Growth Services Department, for matters related to regional development, sudden structural changes, steering of the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) and business services offered by them, promotion of entrepreneurship, EU regional and structural policy, and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

Furthermore, Minister of Economic Affairs Rydman is also responsible for matters related to the Financial Markets Department of the Ministry of Finance.

Profile

Wille-Werner Rydman was born on 2 January 1986 in Helsinki, where he continues to live.

Rydman completed his general upper secondary education at Helsinki Normal Lyceum in 2005. He holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences from the University of Helsinki where he studied political science between 2006 and 2008.

Rydman has been a member of Helsinki City Council since 2013, serving both as member of the City Executive and as First Vice-Chair of the City Council. He has also chaired the Board of Directors of the Port of Helsinki and served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the energy company Helen.

Rydman was first elected to Parliament in 2015. He served for a long time in the Constitutional Law Committee (also as Vice-Chair) and in the Administration Committee. Rydman was a member of the Presidium of the Nordic Council for seven years.

Before entering Parliament, Rydman’s career included working as parliamentary assistant and secretary for international affairs. In addition to Finnish, Rydman speaks Swedish, English and German.

Rydman's grandfather is composer Kari Rydman. Other members of his family include business leader Walter Rydman, Minister Heikki Ritavuori and Mayor Eero Rydman.

Rydman enjoys playing music. A former member of the Cantores Minores boys' choir, he has played the flute, studied at the Helsinki Conservatory of Music and at Sibelius Academy, and composed music for various ensembles.