AKFA Aluminum Solutions, part of Uzbekistan-based AKFA Group, is preparing to enter the US manufacturing market for the first time with a new production facility planned in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The move will make AKFA the first Uzbekistani company to establish a manufacturing presence in the United States.

The company said the project will involve an USD 80 million investment and is expected to create 331 jobs once fully operational, marking a significant step in the group’s international expansion.

The Bowling Green facility is designed as a full-cycle aluminium production hub, combining extrusion, anodizing and finishing operations under one roof. The plant will be built to meet US energy and environmental standards and will incorporate recycled aluminium billets along with energy-efficient systems.

Meredith Rozanski, interim president & CEO of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce said, “AKFA’s investment is transformational — not just for Bowling Green, but for Kentucky’s position on the global manufacturing map. This project represents forward-thinking, high-impact investment that aligns with our strategy: global innovation, advanced manufacturing, and quality jobs for our residents.”

According to the company, the aim is to support a lower-carbon aluminium supply chain while serving customers across sectors such as construction, transportation and renewable energy.

"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 US and Uzbekistan trade relations. Even better, it also creates 331 jobs for Kentuckians."

Also read: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026

AKFA brings Central Asian industrial scale to the US

AKFA Aluminum Solutions US LLC operates the aluminium division of AKFA Group, one of Central Asia’s largest industrial companies. Headquartered in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, the group employs more than 8,000 people across 20 facilities and produces up to 100,000 tonnes of product each year.

Its aluminium products are supplied into a range of global markets, including construction, transportation and renewable energy, positioning the Kentucky plant as a bridge between AKFA’s existing footprint and its US ambitions.

Incentives and workforce support back the investment

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) has preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with AKFA under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The agreement allows the company to access up to USD 5.6 million in tax incentives tied to its USD 80 million investment and its commitment to create and maintain 331 full-time jobs over a decade, with an average hourly wage of USD 27.03 plus benefits.

In addition, KEDFA approved AKFA for up to USD 500,000 in incentives under the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA), which allows companies to recover state sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, R&D equipment and electronic processing systems.

By meeting annual performance targets, AKFA will be able to retain a portion of the new tax revenue it generates, claiming incentives against income tax liabilities or wage assessments. The company will also have access to Kentucky’s workforce services, including no-cost recruitment, job placement assistance, reduced-cost customised training and job-training incentives.

Also read: Sustainability & Recycling: Aluminium's Dual Commitment