Fujitsu has announced that Tatsuya Tanaka, President and Representative Director of Fujitsu Limited, has been named a Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d'Honneur (Legion of Honor) by the government of France. This high-rank honorary decoration was bestowed in a January 25 ceremony held at Élysée Palace in Paris.

The Legion of Honor, established by Napoléon Bonaparte in 1802, is the highest distinction conferred by the government of France. It is awarded to recognize those people and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to France in a variety of fields.

The Fujitsu Group began operations in France in 1999 and currently has approximately 380 employees in the country. As continental Europe's second largest economy, France represents a strategically important market for Fujitsu. It actively conducts business activities centered on IT services and system products, contributing to the French economy.

In addition, in March 2017, Fujitsu announced an investment to support digital transformation and innovation in France, with the French government's collaboration. This initiative has since involved leading French technology companies, higher education and research institutions, and French start-ups. 

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This decoration is in recognition of Fujitsu Group's contributions to the development of France and France-Japan relations. Fujitsu's activities, including the creation of a Center of Excellence dedicated to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Paris-Saclay in March 2017, will work to drive the development of ecosystems in France, and will be a way to actively engage in further strengthening the bilateral relationship with France.

"I would like to thank Tatsuya Tanaka for his personal commitment and trust in our country's economy, companies, as well as higher education and research institutes. I pay tribute, through him, to the strength of the Fujitsu Group, a global leader in digital innovation, and to its willingness to expand and develop in Europe, and especially in France," said French President Emmanuel Macron.

Tatsuya Tanaka, President and Representative Director commented, “It is indeed an honor to receive this prestigious decoration. I am overjoyed to have our activities thus far receive such high recognition. In developing our business in Europe, a region which for the Fujitsu Group is second in size only to Japan, France is a strategic market of great importance. We are also promoting various efforts in France as a development site for such fields of technology and services, given France's outstanding talent and strong AI ecosystem. We hope to bring these efforts to fruition, and by making ever-more progress in their development, to contribute to further growing the relationship of France and Japan.”