China will disburse $62 million (TZS138.8 billion) to finance the construction of a university that will cater for the transport needs of the country, thecitizen.co.tz reports.

This information was disclosed after an audience granted to Ms Wang Ke, the new Chinese ambassador to Tanzania by President John Magufuli.

According to the diplomat, the fund falls in the framework of the reinforcement of Tanzania-China relations.

“A transport university will greatly help Tanzania to increase the number of professionals in aviation, especially at this time when the government is purchasing planes to as parts of efforts to revive Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL),” the site reports.

According to the Tanzania Air Operators Association (Taoa), out of the 456 pilots needed in the country, there were only 183 as at November 2012. It is thus crucial to increase the number of professionals to meet the demand.