Best sites for global entrepreneurs

FSB -- Taking a small business international requires plenty of preparation. These sites will help you evaluate new markets, find the right partners and more.

Alibaba.com. Backed by Fidelity, Goldman Sachs and Yahooo, among others, this business-to-business online marketplace for global trade matches millions of far-flung buyers and sellers.

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Business for Diplomatic Action. The Resource section of this private-sector task force's website is filled with tools designed to educate Americans in how to conduct global business effectively. Download the free World Citizen's Guide, and the Foreign Media Relations Guide, or contact the organization for more information regarding customized global diplomacy courses.

CIA's World Fact Book. This useful site provides detailed demographic, economic, geographic, political and other frequently updated data on virtually every country in the world.

Economist Intelligence Unit. Get economic forecasts and other data on more than 200 countries and eight key industries.

The World Bank's Doing Business database. This site compares the regulatory environments of 175 economies.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce's International Trade Administration. You can find your local U.S. Export Assistance Center, which can help you with everything from finding overseas trade shows to finding pre-screen agents, partners and distributors.