Daniel Tumpal Sumurung Simanjuntak

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.

Education Simanjuntak attended the Jakarta 6th State High School. 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.

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.

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. Upon passing an assessment by the House of Representative's first commission in July, he was installed as ambassador on 17 November. He presented his credentials to Secretary General of the ICAO Juan Carlos Salazar Gómez on 16 February 2022 and Governor General of Canada Mary Simon on 27 April 2022. During his tenure, Daniel led the initiative to finalize a bilateral trade agreement with Canada by 2024. but he was never summoned for a fit and proper test by the House of Representatives for the office. He left his ambassadorial post in April 2025.

On 17 September 2025, Daniel was installed as the director general of economic relations and development cooperation in the foreign ministry. The new directorate general was formed in December 2024 to strengthen international economic relations and improve coordination in foreign economic affairs.

Personal life Simanjuntak is married to Tricia Malonda who hails from Kakas in North Sulawesi. The couple met in high school.