After fleeing his home in Eritrea more than a decade ago to avoid forced military service for an oppressive regime, the 29-year-old was kidnapped and tortured by a gang while making his way to a refugee camp in Sudan.

He later found his way to Israel, where he spent four years as a refugee before relocating to Australia - where he has found a new lease on life since arriving seven years ago.

"Australia is the best country to live in on earth," he told AAP.

"(It) has given me a big chance in my life, working rights, study rights, the right to live and be free."

Mr Siraj is among refugees and asylum seekers who have been selected to open their own businesses at Melbourne's iconic Queen Victoria Market as part of a partnership with not-for-profit organisation Thrive Refugee Enterprise.

He said opening a stall for his business, African Elegance, which sells traditional African dresses, has helped him fit in.

"It allows me to learn more about other people's communities, to introduce and show my products to people and engage with Australian culture," he said.

The business also serves as an opportunity to help family members who are still caught up in conflict.

"I want to make the business grow, I want to take it to different communities to showcase our culture. I also want to help my family and bring them here," he said.

Talha Gok, 32, said opening his Mediterranean Pastry stall, which sells Turkish sweets like baklava, shortbread and tulumba, has also given him a sense of belonging.

The former military officer spent many years living in fear in Istanbul for reasons that cannot be made public due to safety concerns.

He arrived in Australia six years ago after fleeing Turkey and has since been rebuilding his life.

"I needed to build new friendships and a new community and environment to live in," Mr Gok said.

"It wasn't easy, but if you don't have any other choice, you make it happen. There have been a lot of people who have helped me rebuild my life again."

Mr Gok said his pastry business was like his child.

"When I moved to Australia, I did not know anyone. Now, I have really good friends and a community around me," he said.

"At the market, I meet new people who try my sweets and when they love it I feel like I have succeeded at another milestone in my life."

Research commissioned by Thrive shows that nearly 30 per cent of refugees will start a small business by their 10th year of being in Australia.

Thrive aims to encourage and support refugees to start businesses and bring the timing forward to within their first three years in the country.

Queen Victoria Market chief executive Stan Liacos said the partnership would provide the market, which had a history of multiculturalism, with the opportunity to rekindle connections with immigrant business owners.

"These connections have somewhat declined in recent years alongside the changing socio-economic make up and gentrification of inner-city Melbourne," he said.

Australian Associated Press