By Martin Banks

An intrepid young entrepreneur has traded bustling Baku for Brussels to launch a new business. Jamil Khalafov has chosen the self-proclaimed “capital of Europe” above his native Azerbaijan for a new venture into the horeca trade.

The move is courageous on two counts: first, because it comes at a time of economic turbulence and, second, as it is in a market – hospitality – which is still struggling to recover from the health pandemic.

Despite such uncertainty and current gloomy economic forecasts, Jamil, aged just 29, says he is “quietly confident” of making a success of business life in his adopted Belgium.

“Yes, it is very challenging to say the least at present,” he admits, “but I think we have a good business idea which will succeed.”

“I have chosen Belgium for this new enterprise because the business climate is probably better than in Azerbaijan and I also think that the business environment is more flexible here.”

“To have attempted something like this in my country would have been that much more difficult and challenging.”

A refreshing sign of his confidence in Belgium is reflected in the fact that he has moved his family, including a young son, to live and work here even though it is thousands of kilometres from their homeland.

His chosen venture is located in a converted Brussels townhouse, located in a quiet residential street, just a stone’s throw from the city’s EU Quarter. The brightly coloured 120,000 square metre space can be hired for any number of events or occasions and, since its launch this month, it has been used for everything from a fashion catwalk to a business conference.

The modern, ground floor facilities feature a bar area, meeting room, cosy studio room and also a garden terrace. There is also a well equipped kitchen for catering.

One of the primary feature are innovative “tables”, featuring creative art installations, which be lowered from the ceiling for use in conferences and meetings.

“The idea is for the space to be hired for anything from meetings and events to workshops and private, family functions,” he says.

Jamil spent some time in the UK and studied at the University of Essex in Colchester before coming to Belgium four years ago.

His entrepreneurial skills have extended to Flanders where he also runs an Airbnb property in Bruges. There are also possible plans for a small hotel, also in Flanders, in the New Year.

Jamil, a native Russian speaker,told this site: “My father, who still lives in Azerbaijan, works in the hospitality trade. It can be difficult area to work in and the horeca business has had a tough time during and since the pandemic. But we are optimistic of success with this venture.”

Despite recent economic turbulence, he said, “There is real potential for a new business in Belgium and that is one reason why I have chosen this country has been for this new project rather than, say, the UK or Azerbaijan.”

“It takes some bravery to launch a new business in the current climate,” he adds, “and that is why it is also crucial to have a unique selling point.”

He adds, “I think our USP is that we can offer something different to what is currently available here.”