KUBOTA chairman and representative director Masatoshi Kimata has been awarded the National Order of Merit medal by France, an award usually reserved for French citizens.
The Kubota Group established in France in 1974 at the same time Kubota Europe S.A.S. was founded to export its tractors to European countries.
In 2014, the company established a manufacturing plant in the country for upland farming tractors. Today, about 1,000 employees are working at five local subsidiaries.
The National Order of Merit accolade was awarded in recognition of Kubota’s services to economic development and the creation of jobs.
The award ceremony took place at the French Embassy in Tokyo. Mr Kimata said, “It is a wonderful honour to be awarded this decoration, which would not have come about without the dedicated efforts of everyone concerned. Ever since 1974, when Kubota first made inroads there, France has hosted our core operations in Europe, allowing us to increase our presence in the region by distributing tractors, construction machineries, and industrial engines. For us, France is, and shall remain a vital location for the Kubota Group.”
