AMSTERDAM - After years of living a secluded life, people in Mekarjaya Village and Sukaresmi Village in the District of Panimbang, Banten Province, Indonesia will now have a much easier access in their villages. Through a collaboration between AkzoNobel, BMT Group and Yayasan Relawan Kampung, the Bridge of Hope has been built to connect the people of the two villages and enable safer crossing of the Ciliman River.

Nitin Mathew, Country Manager, AkzoNobel's Marine Coatings business, Indonesia, said, "AkzoNobel is proud to honor its commitment to help create more Human Cities around the world. I strongly believe that the collaborative efforts between AkzoNobel and BMT will improve lives and make a difference to the residents of the two villages. We are glad to play our part in transforming lives of these residents with a tangible and lasting impact using our three key strengths - essential ingredients, essential protection and essential color."

Through this project, AkzoNobel donated all of the paints required to ensure the bridge is protected from corrosion and provided expert guidance on how to apply it. Nitin added, "In line with our commitment to support the community, we strive to be involved in community development that makes a positive impact on people's lives. We are proud that we could help preserve this bridge for the benefit of people in both villages. We will continue to search for new and innovative ways in which coatings can play a more significant role in the community."

This project is part of the company's Human Cities initiative. Human Cities projects around the world use AkzoNobel's three key strengths to help make people's lives more livable and inspiring. Human Cities has been active in Indonesia for several years helping to restore and preserve Indonesian's heritage, most recently at the Jakarta History Museum in Kota Tua. That museum is being considered as a nominee for Indonesia's ninth site on the UNESCO World Heritage list.