Benjamin Dousa
Swedish politician of the Moderate Party
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Benjamin Arif Dousa (born 5 December 1992) is a Swedish politician of the Moderate Party. He has served as Minister for Foreign Trade and International Development Cooperation in the cabinet of Ulf Kristersson since 10 September 2024.[1]
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Benjamin Dousa | |
|---|---|
Dousa in 2019 | |
| Minister for Foreign Trade and International Development Cooperation | |
| Assumed office 10 September 2024 | |
| Monarch | Carl XVI Gustaf |
| Prime Minister | Ulf Kristersson |
| Preceded by | Johan Forssell |
| Chairman of the Moderate Youth League | |
| In office 29 October 2016 – 14 November 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Rasmus Törnblom |
| Succeeded by | Matilda Ekeblad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benjamin Arif Dousa 5 December 1992 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Alma mater | Stockholm School of Economics Viktor Rydberg Gymnasium Odenplan |
| Cabinet | Kristersson |
Dousa was previously national chairman of the Moderate Youth League from 2016 to 2020,[2][3] CEO of think tank Timbro[4] from 2020 to 2023 and CEO of Företagarna, the Swedish Federation of Business Owners, from 2023 to 2024.[5]
Early life and education
Dousa was born in Rinkeby and grew up in Husby, both suburbs of Stockholm. His mother, Sonja Dousa (b. 1964), raised him as a single-parent.[6] He studied at Stockholm School of Economics from 2012, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Business and Economics in 2015. He studied for a master's degree in public administration at the London School of Economics at the time of his appointment as cabinet minister in 2024, but has not completed those studies.[7]
Early political career
Dousa served as national chairman of the Moderate School Youth from 2012 to 2013.[8] He later served as national chairman of the Moderate Students from 2014 to 2016.[9]
Douse challenged incumbent national chairman of the Moderate Youth League, Rasmus Törnblom, at the youth leagues congress in November 2016. He won with the votes 66–33.[10] He was unanimously re-elected in 2018.[11]
Dousa was deputy chairman of Rinkeby-Kista City District Board from 2014 to 2018 and chairman of the board from 2018 to 2020.[12]
Private sector career (2020–2024)
On 11 May 2020, Dousa announced that he would be retiring from the Moderate Youth League and from politics altogether, citing a desire to focus on his career. He formally resigned at the Youth League convention in November[13] He became CEO of Timbro in 2020.
He was CEO of Företagarna, The Swedish Federation of Business Owners, from 2023 to 2024.[14]
Return to politics
Minister for Foreign Trade and International Development Cooperation
In the 2024 Swedish cabinet reshuffle he was appointed Minister for Foreign Trade and International Development Cooperation in the cabinet of Ulf Kristersson. Shortly after his appointment he announced the government would cut foreign aid by 3 billion SEK.[15]