Industrial Expansion

For 1Thirty Holding, entering the U.S. market was not simply the launching point of a new project, but a logical continuation of a long-standing journey built amidst intense competition, market turbulence, and large-scale transformations. The decision to launch an R&D Center and production cluster in USA, with a total estimated investment of $130 million, demonstrates the maturity of our industrial model and our readiness to integrate into one of the world’s most competitive and technologically advanced markets.

Today, the US powder coatings market is a global hub for the development of standards, engineering approaches, regulatory norms, and technological trends, which are then transmitted to other regions of the world. Being present in this market means not so much geographic expansion as participating in shaping the future of the industry and contributing to its development.

A Decision made Long Before Implementation

1Thirty Holding’s interest in the American market didn’t arise spontaneously. Research into the possibility of entering the US began back in 2020. As part of the preparatory phase, Co-Founder Alexander Glukhov spent approximately one year in the US, studying the potential for localizing production, the industry structure of demand, the regulatory architecture, and the economics of market entry, both at the federal level and within individual states.

Following this period, a conscious strategic decision was made: despite the attractiveness of the American market, its entry barrier in terms of capital expenditures, regulatory complexity, and overall risks required preliminary adaptation of the management model and the accumulation of practical international experience.

UAE as First International Step

Guided by this logic, a neutral international platform was selected for the next stage of development. This is how the project in the United Arab Emirates was born — 1Thirty Holding’s first international project outside Kazakhstan.

The UAE became a new hub for professional growth for the group. It was the first experience of transferring the Kazakh model beyond its core market to an environment with different standards, business culture, quality requirements, and speed of decision-making.

This stage instilled confidence and provided a clear understanding that 1Thirty Holding’s system — management, process, technology, and operational — was ready for further scaling and entry into more competitive markets. It was after this experience that the group returned to its American operations with a clear understanding of the working mechanisms for successfully entering large markets and consolidating its position.

The American Context: A View from Within

The American direction received a new impetus in 2024–2025. 1Thirty Holding co-founder Zhandos Temirgali has visited the United States on numerous business trips and as part of business delegations, participating in meetings with state representatives, economic and commercial agencies, and industrial partners.

One of the key insights we gained in the US is the depth and systematic nature of government support for industry.

“One of the key insights we gained in the US is the depth and systemic nature of government support for industry. Competition for investors here is not even at the state level, but at the district level within each state, which undoubtedly pleases us as investors,” notes Zhandos Temirgali.

The United States has a fundamentally different approach to industrial policy. While the federal government sets the policy direction, the real work is carried out at the state level, each offering its own support packages — from tax incentives and infrastructure subsidies to workforce training programs and joint R&D initiatives.

“We are currently in the active phase of working with 14 states at once. These aren’t formal negotiations, but rather a deep dialogue: locations, energy, infrastructure, logistics, labor, universities, and the supplier ecosystem. In some cases, states themselves are taking the initiative and proposing conditions that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago,” he emphasizes.

State Support as Part of the Industrial Strategy

One of the key factors influencing the decision to launch the project now was the transformation of the US approach to industrial localization. Programs supporting manufacturing, infrastructure, and technological sovereignty create a unique window of opportunity for high-tech companies.

“In the US today, there’s a very clear understanding: if you want to maintain an industrial base, you must create conditions in which production is economically viable. And we see that these conditions are indeed being created — through subsidies, tax mechanisms, support for job creation, exports, and R&D,” Temirgali notes.

For 1Thirty Holding, this means the opportunity to become part of an ecosystem where production, science and public policy work in sync.

Diplomatic Impulse and Strategic Decision

In July 2025, in a letter to Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, US President Donald Trump confirmed Washington’s readiness to provide institutional support to Kazakh companies whose projects are aimed at investing in the US economy and creating new jobs in the manufacturing sector.

This was a significant signal for 1Thirty Holding’s management. Having received clear confirmation of a favorable investment climate, the company moved into the active phase of project development. In November 2025, during the Kazakh leader’s state visit to Washington for the C5+1 summit, key negotiations took place, cementing the initiative’s status as a flagship project for bilateral economic cooperation.

One of the central events of the business program was the meeting between Zhandos Temirgali and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service David L. Fogel, during which the American leadership was presented with a project to create a vertically integrated chemical complex with an estimated investment of $130 million.

The American side enthusiastically welcomed the 1Thirty Holding project and expressed full readiness for its further support from federal agencies.

Vertical Integration as a Factor of Sustainability

The 1Thirty Holding project is seen as the first large-scale industrial presence of a Kazakh business in the United States. The industrial base will be developed in two stages, allowing the company to systematically expand its capabilities and market presence.

The initial phase will focus on launching powder coatings production and establishing a cutting-edge R&D center. The research unit will focus on developing next-generation technologies, including raw materials for powder coatings. This is critical to meeting demand in high-tech industries such as aerospace, automotive, and modern construction.

The second phase of the project involves launching production of our own raw materials — polyester resins. This full-process strategy, from the synthesis of base components to the finished product, minimizes dependence on third-party suppliers and guarantees consistent product characteristics. The total investment in the project will be approximately $130 million, creating approximately 150 highly skilled jobs in engineering and automation of industrial processes.

Formation of a New Industrial Identity

Scaling a business in North America requires not only financial stability but also a well-thought-out infrastructure strategy. A commercial hub spanning several US states is scheduled to launch in 2026. This hub will serve as the operational foundation for market entry, providing logistical support and customer interaction even before the production facility reaches full capacity.

This initiative goes far beyond commercial considerations. The company is creating not just a factory, but a center of excellence that combines technology and sustainable production principles. For Kazakhstan, this represents a qualitative shift in its global positioning: the country is no longer simply a recipient of investment but a technology partner, implementing innovations at the global level.

Successful implementation of the project in the US will allow 1Thirty Holding to significantly strengthen its position in global production chains. Based on industry expertise, vertical integration and in-house R&D are the most viable model in a highly competitive environment. The combination of political support, long-term vision, and a focus on environmentally friendly technologies makes this project a benchmark example of modern industrial expansion, building trust in Kazakh businesses on the international stage.