Daniel Tumpal Sumurung Simanjuntak is an Indonesian diplomat who is currently serving as director general of economic relations and development cooperation in the foreign ministry since 2025. Prior to his appointment,he served as ambassador to Canada and director for Africa.
Simanjuntak attended the Jakarta 6th State High School.[1] Simanjuntak received his bachelor of political science and masters in international relations from the University of Indonesia in 1996 and 2000,respectively.[2] He furthered his education abroad,earning an MA from Portsmouth University in England in 2002,followed by an LL.M from Erasmus University in the Netherlands in 2004.[1]
Career
Daniel Simanjuntak being interviewed by Antara TV on his career in 2019.
He began his career as a civil servant candidate at the foreign ministry after passing the entrance exam in 1996,officially joining the ministry in 1997. Throughout his career,he has held various diplomatic positions. As a junior diplomat in the Netherlands,he managed political issues related to bilateral relations and international organizations such as the International Court of Justice and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. His second assignment was at the permanent representative to the UN in New York,where he focused on issues concerning peacekeeping forces and disarmament. From 2011 to 2014,he served at the economic section of the embassy in Washington D.C. with the rank of minister counsellor.[1] On 3 January 2017,Daniel was appointed as the director of Africa region within the foreign ministry.[3]
In June 2021,Daniel was nominated by President Joko Widodo as ambassador for Canada,with concurrent accreditation as a representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization.[4] Upon passing an assessment by the House of Representative's first commission in July,[5] he was installed as ambassador on 17 November.[6] He presented his credentials to Secretary General of the ICAO Juan Carlos Salazar Gómez on 16 February 2022[7] and Governor General of CanadaMary Simon on 27 April 2022.[8][9] During his tenure,Daniel led the initiative to finalize a bilateral trade agreement with Canada by 2024.[8] In August 2024,Daniel was nominated by President Joko Widodo as ambassador to China,[10] but he was never summoned for a fit and proper test by the House of Representatives for the office.[11] He left his ambassadorial post on April 2025.[12]
On 17 September 2025,Daniel was installed as the director general of economic relations and development cooperation in the foreign ministry.[13] The new directorate general was formed in December 2024 to strengthen international economic relations and improve coordination in foreign economic affairs.[14]
Personal life
Simanjuntak is married to Tricia Malonda who hails from Kakas in North Sulawesi. The couple met in high school.[1]
↑Kementerian Luar Negeri, Republik Indonesia (3 January 2017). "Menlu RI Lantik 50 Pejabat Eselon II Kemlu"[Foreign Minister of Indonesia Inaugurates 50 Echelon II Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]. Kementerian Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
↑Madina, Annisa Thahira (13 February 2025). "Nasib Samar Belasan Calon Dubes yang Diajukan Jokowi"[Uncertain Fate of Dozens of Ambassador Candidates Proposed by Jokowi]. Kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 29 August 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
