Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Şen addresses guests at the World Breakfast Day celebration
The Turkish Embassy in Cairo hosted a special event to mark World Breakfast Day, observed annually on the first Sunday of June. In his remarks, Turkish Ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Şen, underscored the central role of breakfast in Turkish culture. He pointed to Turkey's efforts to promote its tourism and culinary heritage, referencing initiatives such as Turkish Cuisine Week (21–27 May) and Global Breakfast Day, especially in light of Egyptians' growing interest in Turkish food.
Attendees enjoyed a traditional Turkish breakfast featuring a variety of staples, including cheese, olives, jams, cucumbers, tomatoes, and baguette bread, alongside more substantial dishes such as sujuk (sausage), pastrami, eggs, butter, honey, cream, yoghurt, börek, and simit. The meal concluded with a selection of fruits, cakes, and biscuits.
The sujuk served at the event was sourced from Eskişehir, Ambassador Şen's hometown, which is known for producing some of the finest sujuk in Turkey.
He also emphasised the cultural and social value of breakfast in Turkish households, where families often share the meal at home, in cafés, or public parks, particularly on weekends.
Strengthening Turkish-Egyptian Relations
Ambassador Şen outlined recent developments in Turkish-Egyptian relations, noting that bilateral ties continue to deepen. He emphasised that this growing partnership is based on mutual respect, friendship, and shared interests in key areas, including economic and security collaboration.
Among the recent signs of cooperation, he cited the visit of Egypt's Chief of Staff to Turkey, where meetings were held with the Turkish Minister of National Defence, the Chief of the General Staff, and representatives from the defence industry.
He also mentioned the Turkish frigate TCG Gökçeada's visit to Alexandria Port from 27 to 29 May, during which the ship's commander met with Egyptian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ashraf Atwa.
Looking ahead, the ambassador announced that two Turkish ministers are expected to visit Egypt in June. He also shared plans for joint musical performances between the two countries this year. Expressing his admiration for Egyptian icon Um Kulthoum, Ambassador Şen revealed his long-held vision of organising a concert in her honour. With Egypt declaring 2025 the "Year of Um Kulthoum," a commemorative concert featuring songs by Um Kulthoum and Mohamed Abdel Wahab is now in the works.
Sports Diplomacy and Youth Cooperation
Ambassador Şen congratulated Turkish gymnast of Egyptian origin Adam Asil, who recently won two gold medals—in the individual all-around and still rings categories—at the European Gymnastics Championships in Germany. He described Asil's success as a shared source of pride for both nations.
He also discussed his recent meeting with Egyptian Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, expressing hope that a formal cooperation agreement in youth and sports will be signed soon.
Economic Cooperation and Investment
Regarding economic matters, Ambassador Şen reported significant progress toward restarting the Ro-Ro shipping line to enhance trade between the two countries. He noted that both he and Turkish investors are eagerly awaiting its resumption.
He also met with executives from a Turkish clothing brand operating several stores in Egypt. According to Şen, the company remains confident in Egypt's economic reform path and plans further growth and investment.
Turkish investments in Egypt, he added, are expected to surpass $500 million this year.
Ambassador Şen concluded by announcing an upcoming event at the Suez Canal Economic Zone, reaffirming the strategic importance of Turkish-Egyptian relations for regional peace, stability, and development.
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