On September 11, the Komatsu Group (Komatsu) held a new plant opening ceremony at Komatsu Manufacturing Rus, LLC (KMR) in Yaroslavl, Russia, and embarked on full-scale factory shipment of hydraulic excavators to CIS markets.

KMR's ceremony was held just in time for Yaroslavl's millennium anniversary ceremony. On the occasion of its plant opening ceremony, KMR entered an agreement with the Provincial Government of Yaroslavl to engage in social contribution programs designed to promote industrial, sports and human resource development in the province as KMR, a dedicated corporate citizen, will work toward the further growth of Yaroslavl. Specifically, KMR will sponsor courses related to construction equipment technologies and manufacturing engineering and conduct joint research in collaboration with colleges and public technical schools in the province. In the area of promoting sports, KMR will invite local children to official home games of the Locomotive Yaroslavl ice hockey team in addition to providing assistance to judo which Komatsu supports in Japan.

Academic-industrial cooperation (planned for 5 years starting in 2010)
1)Sponsoring courses in construction equipment technology and welding at Yaroslavl Institute of Technology
2)Sponsoring courses in basic manufacturing engineering at Rybinsk State Academy of Aviation Technology
3)Sponsoring courses in welding skills at Yaroslavl Technical Vocational School #21

Promotion of sports (planned for 5 years starting in 2010)
1)Offering assistance for the promotion of judo to ARENAL, a public sports facility in Yaroslavl (donation of straw mats and judo uniforms, financial assistance for ARENAL's operation, dispatchment of Japanese instructors, training of local coaches and selected judo athletes in Japan, etc.)
2)Inviting local children to official home games of Locomotiv Yaroslavl, the local professional ice hockey team