KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is looking to expand its halal market to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries including Australia and New Zealand.International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said Malaysia had been working closely with the two countries as they were familiar with Malaysia’s halal agenda. “We are looking for markets in some of these (TPP) countries. For example, in the United States and Canada, where the Muslim population is growing. “By promoting halal products in those countries, we hope Malaysian exporters would get better market access in some of the TPP countries,” he told reporters after the soft launch of the World Halal Week 2016 here, today. Mustapa said the halal industry was an important agenda for the government in the 11th Malaysia Plan and Halal Industry Development Corporation was recognised as an important focal point to grow Malaysian halal industry.