BEIRUT, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands will offer over 200 million euros (235 million U.S. dollars) in grants to Lebanon in the next four years, said Sigrid Kaag, minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.
"The money that will be given to Lebanon are grants and not loans," she said at a joint press conference held with Gebran Bassil, Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister, on Monday during her visit to Lebanon.
Kaag said that the Netherlands seeks to invest in Lebanon in a bid to create job opportunities for the Lebanese youths in industry, agriculture and technology.
More than 1 million Syrian refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Lebanon. The Lebanese government estimates the true number of Syrians in the country to be 1.5 million.
Kaag said she supports a secure return for refugees to their homeland.
Bassil praised the Netherlands' support for Lebanon in different sectors including water, agriculture and education in a bid to face the challenge of hosting a large number of Syrian refugees.
However, Bassil said that Lebanon cannot take more Syrian refugees on its territories and the only solution to this issue is to secure a gradual and safe return for Syrians to their country.
