Invest in Turkey — a promotional website by the Turkish government — lists 10 main reasons why foreign investors should put their money in the country. Highlighting geopolitical advantages, the site describes Turkey as “a natural bridge between both East-West and North-South axes, thus creating an efficient and cost-effective outlet to major markets.” The country, it says, has an “easy access to 1.6 billion customers in Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa” and “multiple markets worth $24 trillion” in gross domestic product.

Turkey’s role as an “energy corridor” is also highlighted: The country sits “at a close proximity of more than 70% of the world’s proven primary energy reserves, while the largest energy consumer, which is Europe, is located right to the west of Turkey, thus making the country a linchpin in energy transit and an energy terminal in the region.”

The website describes also a favorable investment climate, noting that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ranks Turkey as “the second-biggest reformer” in terms of easing restrictions on foreign direct investment since 1997. Turkey, it says, offers “a business-friendly environment, with an average of 7.5 days to set up a company, while the average in OECD members is more than 15 days.” All this in addition to “highly competitive investment conditions, strong industrial and service culture, equal treatment for all investors, around 46,800 companies with international capital in 2015, international arbitration and guarantee of transfers.”

Turkey’s location at the juncture of trade and energy routes linking populous markets is truly a blessing, but how the country is using it is another question. The expert opinion is far from flattering. Despite all the appealing factors Ankara lists, the world’s top three credit-rating agencies — Moody’s, Standard and Poor’s (S&P) and Fitch — have all relegated Turkey to a “non-investment” status today.