Jordan: Promised trade perks will help employ Syria refugees

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - Jordan's planning minister says his country has been promised easier trade terms by the international community, potentially generating large-scale investment and "hundreds of thousands of job opportunities."

Imad Fakhoury told reporters Sunday that creating jobs for Jordanians is a priority, but that the trade commitments could also put 200,000 Syrian refugees to work.

Fakhoury spoke after last week's Syria aid conference, where donors pledged more than $10 billion, including aid to 4.6 million refugees and their regional hosts, such as Jordan.

Donor countries struggling with a large refugee influx over the past year hope to improve the lives of the displaced and keep them in the region.

Fakhoury says that in addition to trade perks, Jordan will also receive billions of dollars in grants and easy loans in coming years.