diff --git a/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_NUMBER b/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_NUMBER
index ac4213d6e97d..d2e1cefe89e1 100644
--- a/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_NUMBER
+++ b/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_NUMBER
@@ -1 +1 @@
-43
\ No newline at end of file
+44
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_VERSION b/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_VERSION
index 0e9f8f83347b..b346bd2f8a47 100644
--- a/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_VERSION
+++ b/release/triggers/eks-a-release/production/RELEASE_VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v0.16.4
\ No newline at end of file
+v0.16.5
\ No newline at end of file