AKFA Aluminum Solutions, a division of Uzbekistan’s AKFA Group, has announced plans to become the first Uzbekistani company to establish a manufacturing operation in the U.S.
The company, according to Gov. Andy Beshear’s office, “is making a significant investment to locate a new facility in Bowling Green, creating 331 new jobs.”
The company’s 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. AKFA’s first U.S. operation will integrate recycled aluminum billets and energy-efficient systems to support a low-carbon supply chain, reinforcing the region’s growing reputation in sustainable, advanced manufacturing.
“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 said. “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. I want to thank the company’s leadership for believing in Kentucky for their first U.S. operation and look forward to their future success.”
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. AKFA Group produces up to 100,000 tons of product annually, supplying materials for global markets including construction, transportation and renewable energy.
To encourage investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) last week preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $5.6 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $80 million and annual targets of:
- Creation and maintenance of 331 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years
- Paying an average hourly wage of $27.03, including benefits, across those jobs.
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, the company can be eligible to 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.
In addition, AKFA can receive resources from Kentucky’s workforce service providers. Those include no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job-training incentives.
For more information on AKFA Aluminum Solutions and AKFA Group, visit akfagroup.com.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
