AKFA Aluminum Solutions, a division of Uzbekistan’s AKFA Group, announced plans to open a production facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, positioning the company as the first Uzbekistani firm to establish a manufacturing presence in the U.S. The company expects the $80 million investment to create 331 jobs.
The new facility will serve as a full-cycle production hub, featuring advanced extrusion, anodizing and finishing capabilities aligned with U.S. energy and environmental standards. It will also integrate recycled aluminum billets and energy-efficient systems to support a low-carbon supply chain.
"Kentucky’s historic economic momentum has been fueled by our incredible workforce and our ability to attract companies from across the globe,” Gov. Andy Beshear. "This announcement from AKFA Aluminum Solutions introduces a new international partner to the commonwealth and is an important step for U.S. and Uzbekistan trade relations. Even better, it also creates 331 jobs for Kentuckians."
AKFA Aluminum Solutions U.S. LLC operates the aluminum division of AKFA Group, one of Central Asia’s largest industrial companies with more than 8,000 employees across 20 facilities. Based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, AKFA Group produces up to 100,000 tons of product annually, supplying materials for various global markets such as construction, transportation and renewable energy.
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with AKFA under the Kentucky Business Investment program. Under the agreement, the company can receive up to $5.6 million in tax incentives based on its $80 million investment and annual goals of creating and maintaining 331 full-time jobs over 10 years, with an average hourly wage of $27.03 and benefits.
Additionally, KEDFA approved AKFA for up to $500,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.
By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, AKFA can keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments.
AKFA can also receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers, including no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.
