By Whitney Downard
Indiana Capital Chronicle
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, who went on an unannounced “economic development trip” in India and missed obligations back home, publicly shared a release about his time abroad on Thursday — but only after he returned.
A Thursday press release from the office emphasized, in bold, that the ten-day trip was privately funded and that “no agency or taxpayer funds were used.” The release didn’t include dates, saying only that Morales had “recently concluded” the visit.
“Visiting India is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen Indiana’s economic ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. By fostering deeper partnerships, we can unlock new avenues for trade, innovation, and collaborations, ensuring that both Indiana and India continue to thrive on the international stage. I look forward to seeing the long-term impact of our discussions on Indiana’s economic growth and international influence,” Morales said in the release.
Posts on his social media earlier in the month include visits to local ice cream shops and videos of him meeting county-level public officials, but not India. The Thursday press release he tweeted is his first mention of India since October.
But Morales wasn’t present for a March 18 meeting before lawmakers to justify his budget request for the 2025 cycle. State Affairs Indiana reported that his deputy told lawmakers Morales was on an economic development trip. However, the absence was subject to bipartisan criticism.
At least one Indiana official demurred about the trip on Thursday when asked if it was appropriate.
House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, on the other hand, poked fun at the trip and Morales’ absence.
“Well, I was told he was somewhere and thought he’d booked a flight back to Indiana and apparently didn’t type all the way and he went to India,” said the Fort Wayne Democrat.
And while he acknowledged that the agency had duties with regards to corporations, he decisively said, “No,” when asked if the officeholder should take economic development trips.
“I hear a lot of this talking out of both sides: We want to cut budgets, but we also want to allow folks to take trips to India. It’s pretty ridiculous,” GiaQuinta continued.
Tweets from others put Morales in India as early as March 20, when he apparently addressed an audience at the National Association of Software and Service Companies Global Conference in New Delhi about “forging international alliances for tech leadership.”
According to Morales’ press release, he also “promoted Indiana as an ideal base for North American industry” before the India Electronics & Computer Software Export Promotion Council INDIASOFT 2025 Conference.
Economic development doesn’t typically fall under the purview of the Office of the Secretary of State, which oversees processes like business licensing and elections. Instead, the Indiana Economic Development Corp. usually coordinates international trips for state officials, including a 2017 India visit for former Gov. Eric Holcomb.
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The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.
