Kanpur, July 18 (UNI) Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh today said if Uttar Pradesh government proposed, then Kanpur and the nearby areas could be converted into a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Addressing industrialists here, Mr Ramesh claimed the leather industry had good prospects in Kanpur and all efforts would be made to solve the problem of exporters.

''For the convenience of exporters, goods train would now run three days a week, while talks with the defence minister for the renovation of Kanpur airport are also on,'' he informed.

The union minister said UP and Bihar were capable of doing much better in industrial sector, but were not utilising their potential to the fullest.

Mr Ramesh laid emphasis on producing finishing goods from the raw material rather than exporting the same.

Talking to mediapersons, he said leather and herbal-based raw material in the country could be used for making finished goods.

Giving the example of China, he said the neighbouring country was developing fast, since it was converting its raw material into exportable goods.

Mr Ramesh said India exported herbal products worth Rs 700 crore last year, of which 60 per cent herbs were in form of raw material.

UNI VS ATI MIR HT2126