Kubota has announced that its chairman and representative director Masatoshi Kimata has been awarded the National Order of Merit Medal by the Republic of France, an award usually reserved for French citizens.
The Kubota Group was established in France in 1974, at the same time that Kubota Europe S.A.S was founded to export its tractors to European countries. More recently, in 2014, the company established a manufacturing plant for upland farming tractors in France.
Today, around 1,000 employees are working at five local subsidiaries, which are responsible for research and development, production, sales and after-sales services.
In recognition of the company’s long-standing services to the economic development and creation of jobs in the country, and on behalf of the company, Masatoshi Kimata has been honoured.
The National Order of Merit Medal was founded in 1963 and is usually awarded to citizens who have made remarkable contributions to France in the areas of cultural and economic activities.
During the award ceremony, which took place on June 30th at the French Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, 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 machinery, and industrial engines. For us, France is, and shall remain a vital location for the Kubota Group.”