Chandigarh: The government of Madagascar and the Punjab-based Rayat-Bahra Group of Institutes will collaborate to set up an aviation institute in the island nation, a spokesperson for the group said here on Tuesday.

"Having visited the group's campus and after thoroughly going through the credentials of this group, we have zeroed on in north India to set up this world class institute," said Olivier Andrianarison, Ambassador of Madagascar to India, after a visit to the Rayat-Bahra campuses in Punjab's Ropar district.

Andrianarison said the Madagascar government was looking towards establishing world-class technical education facilities with help of international partners.

"With eight international airports and 55 domestic airports, we have the right kind of infrastructure of international level to set up this institute. Moreover, there is dearth of good pilots in both India and Madagascar," he added.

He said that the Madagascar government has decided to provide one fully functional airport with a fleet of 380 aircraft to give practical training to the budding pilots.

Rayat-Bahra Group Chairman Gurvinder Singh Bahra said while students will study the academic part of the aviation course at the Rayat-Bahra campus in India, for practical training, they would head to Madagascar.

"Education in aviation requires lot of investment and our collaboration with the Madagascar government will give our students exposure to international standards," Bahra said. IANS