(FORTUNE Magazine) – What follows are profiles of 50 other cities that cut a truly international figure. Not all are favorite vacation spots or hotbeds of cosmopolitan glamour. But Cincinnati and Dubai, just as much as Paris and Buenos Aires, have come to define what it takes for a city to be a center of global business. As in real estate, location is everything. These 50 cities serve as key gateways to vital trade routes. Nairobi opens to East Africa, for example, Shanghai to China, and Detroit to Canada. Perhaps surprisingly, the list, which is in alphabetical order, includes Prague and Johannesburg as players on the international stage.

Amsterdam Population 713,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 145 Cities served nonstop (flights) 91 Annual office rental rates per square foot $18.80 Openness to other cultures

The Dutch are the most international of Europeans, and Amsterdam is a manageable city, with excellent office and transportation facilities. Rents are low; building quality is high. The Netherlands is at the center of Europe's trucking network, one reason Nissan set up its European logistics headquarters here. Amsterdam also is a fun city, with cozy cafes, good music and theater -- much of it in English -- and a liberal view of vice, which speaks all languages.

Baltimore Population 726,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 97 Cities served nonstop (flights) 61 Annual office rental rates per square foot $21 Openness to other cultures

Known as a world-class health care spot, in large part because of the medical school at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore is no slouch for business either. The city's infrastructure strengths are truly global. They include an international air terminal and advanced telecommunications facilities. The port plays host to vessels from more than 50 countries each year, and the refurbished harbor is a sightseer's delight.

Barcelona Population 1,623,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 134 Cities served nonstop (flights) 57 Annual office rental rates per square foot $25.74 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

The 1992 Olympics left this city with a fresh infrastructure, a redone waterfront, two new terminals at El Prat airport, and 27 new hotels -- all fitting for a city that hopes to dominate "the Mediterranean banana," the arc that stretches from northern Italy through southern France to Spain. Possible drawback: the growing nationalism of the regional Catalonians. Their political party owns city hall, and they speak their own language, which baffles foreigners.

Boston Population 552,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 103 Cities served nonstop (flights) 86 Annual office rental rates per square foot $26 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Although costs in Beantown are among the U.S.'s highest, Boston still gets top marks as a place to recruit and retain international talent. One factor is the more than 60 colleges and universities in the area, including Harvard and MIT. Total enrollment: 250,000 students. Like much of the Northeast, Boston is emerging from the recession. In contrast, Route 128, home to Digital Equipment and other high-tech companies, is still full of potholes.

Beijing Population 5,769,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 133 Cities served nonstop (flights) 34 Annual office rental rates per square foot $56.32 Openness to other cultures 1 globe

The capital of China is a haven for bureaucrats who have the imperial grandeur of 2,000 years of recorded history, but don't look for business efficiency. A simple matter like cashing a check often requires a long wait in line. Air pollution is bad in winter because electricity is fueled by coal. Dust storms blow in the spring. New office buildings make things a little easier. Another worry looms: plans to tax what are enigmatically called "excessive" profits.

Brussels Population 951,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 155 Cities served nonstop (flights) 62 Annual office rental rates per square foot $21 Openness to other cultures 5 globes

Much of the hype about Brussels's becoming the capital of Europe evaporated as the Single Market program stumbled. But the city remains good for business, with many European headquarters. Belgians are cosmopolitan linguists comfortable in several languages. Their capital is manageable by car. The food's great, many say more consistent than in Paris. Airline connections from Zaventem airport are great for Africa and the rest of Europe.

Berlin Population 3,466,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 162 Cities served nonstop (flights) 45 Annual office rental rates per square foot $31.40 Openness to other cultures 4 globes

This just may be the biggest construction site in Europe, but the place is still divided. The promise of post-reunification preeminence is clearly on hold. Opportunity still beckons, this time with a dash of pragmatism. The federal government will move here, but only part of it, and then only after 2000. The new reality has helped cut rents, and the city, with its zoo and green spaces, remains a sophisticated island amid the blahs of the former East Germany.

Buenos Aires Population 2,960,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 177 Cities served nonstop (flights) 31 Annual office rental rates per square foot $26 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Economic reforms begun in 1989 seem to be taking hold, as inflation has fallen to around 5%, down from 1989's historical high of 4,924%. Tariffs and import restrictions continue to fall, and government bureaucracy is being slashed. Massive privatization has taken place, and large hydroelectric and nuclear power plants, ports, and railroad lines are now in shareholder hands. The airport, still run by the air force, remains a sorry exception.

Bombay Population 9,909,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 99 Cities served nonstop (flights) 31 Annual office rental rates per square foot $80 Openness to other cultures 1 globe

India's traditional commercial capital is booming. A flood of multinationals seeking prime real estate has pushed up prices more than 200% since 1992. Bombay is also abuzz with talk of salary escalation by U.S. firms Morgan Stanley and McKinsey. English is the language of business -- and most advertisers. Example: A local billboard proclaims: we can send a dead body anywhere! anyhow! anytime!

Cincinnati Population 364,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 97 Cities served nonstop (flights) 89 Annual office rental rates per square foot $20 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Procter & Gamble shares this river town that has its own version of the Brooklyn Bridge with 141 foreign-owned companies from 15 countries investing locally. Japan's Kawasaki owns 20% of A.K. Steel, a fixture since 1900. Formerly known as Armco, it employs 4,400 to make metal sheets. The expanding metropolitan area now includes 13 counties, fitting for a growing economy that's adding manufacturing and service jobs.

Cleveland Population 503,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 97 Cities served nonstop (flights) 48 Annual office rental rates per square foot $20.50 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

While 12% of Cleveland's total development projects start with foreign firms like Kobe Steel, the metro area is also home to 28 Fortune 1,000 companies -- TRW and SherwinWilliams among them. A business partnership led Cleveland's comeback in the 1980s, and the New Gateway sports complex downtown points to the future. The Cleveland Play House and renowned orchestra contribute to the quality of life.

Dubai Population 585,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 135 Cities served nonstop (flights) 11 Annual office rental rates per square foot $17.10 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Dubai, situated between Asia and Europe -- and once a stop on the Spice Road -- boasts a truly international population: 75% of its residents are expats, many from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines. The city caters to international businesses with favorable taxes and a 25,000-acre free-trade zone. Jebel Ali Port, on the Persian Gulf, is the largest man-made port in the world and one of the two man-made structures visible from the moon. The other: the Great Wall of China.

Dallas Population 1,022,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 99 Cities served nonstop (flights) 128 Annual office rental rates per square foot $13.50 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

* Big D should be a big winner from NAFTA as more outfits in this centrally located, pro-business city go continental. Nearly 900 companies in the area already do business across two borders, Mexico's and Canada's. One study predicts that the trade treaty will create 75,000 new jobs by the year 2003. Banking and other traditional businesses will remain strong, but observers say precision manufacturing and electronics are the industries to watch.

Geneva Population 167,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 186 Cities served nonstop (flights) 37 Annual office rental rates per square foot $22.70 Openness to other cultures 5 globes

This banking capital also is host to a series of international organizations, including the soon-to-be-created World Trade Organization. Still expensive, real estate has fallen from its recent stratospheric heights. You can live in picturesque villages less than a half hour from work. And for the weekends, there's always the Alps for skiing and Lake Leman for swimming, fishing, and boating. The airport is superb and close to the city center.

Denver Population 484,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 98 Cities served nonstop (flights) 95 Annual office rental rates per square foot $13.50 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Opening the long-delayed new airport might not help international air access, a weakness. Still, several foreign companies, including Sweden's Cobe Labs, a manufacturer of medical equipment, and Finland's Leaf, a candymaker, like it here in the Mile-High City. Attention, marketers: Denver's young population leads the U.S. in moviegoing. Skiers and hikers help support more sporting good stores per capita than in any other place on earth.

Houston Population 1,690,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 98 Cities served nonstop (flights) 83 Annual office rental rates per square foot $16.01 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Worldly Houston has trade reps in Tokyo, Caracas, and Mexico City. Global companies coming here find a busy port, foreign-trade manufacturing sites, and strong telecommunications. Proximity to Mexico and an export-import bank make ^ it easy to cash in on NAFTA. Many Vietnamese now make their home here. World- class health facilities, including the Texas Medical Center, make Houston a global force in that respect too.

Detroit Population 1,012,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 98 Cities served nonstop (flights) 102 Annual office rental rates per square foot $19.50 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Motown is a place of promise, but right now it's still America's Third World city. Possible interpretation: now is the time to buy all that low-priced real estate and land. The recent rebound of the auto industry is helping strengthen the local economy, of course. NAFTA also helps, since more than half of all trade between the U.S. and Canada passes through Detroit. This partly explains why 700 foreign companies have settled here.

Jakarta Population 8,259,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 127 Cities served nonstop (flights) 32 Annual office rental rates per square foot $15.61 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

The hub of the largest nation in Southeast Asia is a frustrating city, an urban village sprawled over 250 square miles, where traffic is dense and telephones are unreliable but improving. New skyscrapers in commercial areas look down on open drainage ditches. Indonesia operates on "rubber time," which means everything takes longer than expected. Government offices close at 3 p.m. Seasoned engineers and bilingual secretaries are scarce and costly.

Jedda Population 1,500,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 134 Cities served nonstop (flights) 15 Annual office rental rates per square foot N.A. Openness to other cultures 1 globe

Where Riyadh is the conservative seat of the monarchy, and Dhahran an oil center, Jedda is Saudi Arabia's most cosmopolitan city. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the Muslim world pass through every year on the way to nearby Mecca. Its Red Sea port is the main entry point for imports into the country; Saudi Arabia bought $8.4 billion worth of goods from the U.S. in 1993, vs. $32 billion for the other 13 Arab countries combined.

Madrid , Population 2,909,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 136 Cities served nonstop (flights) 60 Annual office rental rates per square foot $27.45 Openness to other cultures 1 globe

When King Philip II proclaimed Madrid the capital of Spain in 1561, he said he chose it because of the "healthy air and brilliant skies," both of which still appertain. Madrilenos enjoy an unbeatable nightlife and still don't dine till 10 p.m. Foreigners can join in the fun or enjoy a comfortable expatriate life in a modern city of broad leafy avenues backed by elegant parks. Housing is excellent and relatively affordable. The economy is strengthening.

Johannesburg Population 1,609,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 106 Cities served nonstop (flights) 18 Annual office rental rates per square foot $13 Openness to other cultures 4 globes

Renowned for the diamond and gold trade, Johannesburg is also the center of South Africa's $60 billion banking industry and has a stock exchange that's one of the ten most active in the world. Its container port for rail transport is the busiest on the continent. But a major problem confronts Nelson Mandela's new government: an unemployment rate of nearly 50%, owing to deficiencies of skills and training. Failure to find answers could prove tragic.

Mexico City Population 9,816,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 124 Cities served nonstop (flights) 69 Annual office rental rates per square foot $50 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

NAFTA is giving a boost to this urban sprawl as retailers eagerly pour in to cater to the estimated 18 million people in the metro area. Alas, the city is also home to three million cars and countless buses, which help make just breathing equal to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. An extensive subway system is the fastest way to get around, and the phone service, already improving, will benefit from the 1996 arrival of competitors from north of the border.

Kansas City Population 432,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 98 Cities served nonstop (flights) 52 Annual office rental rates per square foot $20 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

As the heart of the heartland, K.C. is the hub of some 66 major metropolitan areas within a 600-mile radius. Together these account for a population of some 55 million. This area also contains 38% of the nation's manufacturers and 43% of its wholesalers. The Japanese have stepped up their visits, watching baseball way back when -- and scouting the city and its environs for business opportunities. The steaks and barbecue are hard to beat.

Milan Population 1,432,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 141 Cities served nonstop (flights) 63 Annual office rental rates per square foot $29.23 Openness to other cultures 1 globe

This place sure has style, and whatever happens in Italy -- good or bad -- happens here first. Milan leads the nation in benefiting from the fruits of a nascent Italian economic recovery. The city must still decide whether it wants an international role. Its haute couture fashion shows are closed to foreign designers, for example, and the most popular local political party is the Northern League, which is dedicated to breaking all links with Southern Italy.

Los Angeles Population 3,490,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 104 Cities served nonstop (flights) 94 Annual office rental rates per square foot $20 Openness to other cultures 4 globes

Earthquakes, riots, and 511 miles of crowded freeway are all deficits. Still, L.A. has its points. Its location is helping to foster ties with Asia and Latin America. The area's impressive infrastructure has five major airports and the largest port complex in the U.S. in terms of tonnage handled. Next year construction starts on the Alameda Corridor project, which will make it much easier to hurry goods to their next stop by railroad or highway.

Minneapolis/St. Paul Population 363,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 100 Cities served nonstop (flights) 107 Annual office rental rates per square foot $18.79 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Nearly 100,000 people are employed by 760 foreign businesses. While imports are growing at Minneapolis's port, the city's exports to Mexico have also increased 63% since 1990, beating the U.S. average of 49%. Mall of America is a global shopping opportunity that each week attracts 900,000 shoppers, many of them foreigners. Food giant Cargill, 3M, Northwest Airlines, and Honeywell are among the companies headquartered here.

Moscow Population 8,747,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 180 Cities served nonstop (flights) 116 Annual office rental rates per square foot $70 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Moscow has all the makings of a boomtown, with a Gianni Versace boutique and a Stockmann's department store among the newcomers. But office rents, crime, and an acute shortage of hotel rooms make it a tough place to do business. Good signs: Mobile telephones and direct satellite links allow foreigners to circumnavigate the terrible local phone service, and privately held airlines help business visitors get to other Russian cities.

Phoenix Population 1,012,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 96 Cities served nonstop (flights) 62 Annual office rental rates per square foot $12.92 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Global players in both golf and business see Phoenix as a destination city. The city with perhaps America's best climate is already the beneficiary of refugees from California, not to mention the frozen North. The city's businesses -- including Phelps Dodge, America West, and Dial -- should be able to bask in the benefits from its position on the 2,000-mile Canamex Corridor, a virtual trade route stretching from Guaymas, Mexico, to Edmonton, Canada.

Nairobi Population 1,504,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 107 Cities served nonstop (flights) 8 Annual office rental rates per square foot N.A. Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Roughly 75 multinational companies have offices in Nairobi, thanks in part to its having the best infrastructure in the region, especially in telecommunications. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, while inefficient by the standards of the developed world, remains the best route into Eastern and Central Africa. Because of a preference for being educated in U.S. and British colleges and universities, Nairobi's citizens are often fluent in English.

Pittsburgh Population 367,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 96 Cities served nonstop (flights) 116 Annual office rental rates per square foot $21.40 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Lifestyle, including swaths of green parks and museums, along with overall affordability, help it score well with the U.S. business community. The city's insularity, a remnant of its gritty steel mill past, and its rust belt gloom hold it back internationally. Prestigious Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne, and other universities contribute to the intellectual capital of the city -- and to a growing number of high-tech companies that are setting up here.

Paris Population 2,175,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 164 Cities served nonstop (flights) 144 Annual office rental rates per square foot $59 Openness to other cultures 4 globes

Of course there's too much traffic. Of course the French can be frosty to foreigners. Wages and office rents are scandalous. But the metro and commuter system are impeccable, and the business skyscrapers at La Defense combine function and charm. Not since Baron Haussmann thrust boulevards through the mid-19th-century slums has the city experienced such a surge of construction and renewal. Says planning director Jacques Marvillet: "Paris works."

Portland, Oregon Population 445,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 98 Cities served nonstop (flights) 45 Annual office rental rates per square foot $17.50 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Portland exports a limited range of basic goods, including food, wood and paper products, and transportation equipment. It's Beaverton, the suburb to the west, that has put the metro area on the world stage by way of Nike. The outfitter exports its clothes and footwear to more than 100 countries. Portland repealed an antibusiness tax back in 1984, and since then has seen some $1.2 billion in foreign investment come flowing in.

Philadelphia Population 1,553,000 & Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 99 Cities served nonstop (flights) 78 Annual office rental rates per square foot $20 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

A new city administration is committed to erasing the long-lived effects of unbrotherly love -- such as the firebombing of an entire street -- and raising its abysmal bond rating. Philly offers a new convention center and a productive, well-educated work force. Local companies export computers, health care products, and food processing equipment. Some 470 foreign-owned firms are located here, including 80 from Germany, which spells confidence in a turnaround.

Prague Population 1,212,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 125 Cities served nonstop (flights) 27 Annual office rental rates per square foot $36.80 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

So many foreigners are flocking here that the Czech capital has the air of an international carnival. New stores sprout up almost every day. Of course, the telephones don't work well and the air connections remain spotty, but well-trained labor is inexpensive and the whole country looks poised for growth. Says Zdenek Bakala, a Drexel vet who has started a local investment bank: "This isn't the Wild East. It's a law-abiding, well-organized city."

St. Louis Population 384,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 97 Cities served nonstop (flights) 91 Annual office rental rates per square foot $18 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

With its soaring arch, this river city is home to several major U.S. companies, among them Anheuser-Busch, Monsanto, and Ralston Purina. St. Louis plugs itself as "the middle coast" and indeed has the country's second-largest inland port (after Pittsburgh). The newly formed U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce will make the city its home. The big uncertainty: the future of McDonnell Douglas, which makes some of its military aircraft here.

Seoul Population 10,612,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 156 Cities served nonstop (flights) 38 Annual office rental rates per square foot $33.06 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Surveyed executives rank South Korea's capital among cities with the most barriers to entry but also place it among the lowest-cost business centers. Recruiting and retaining talented managers is difficult in this rapidly expanding economy. Financial markets, which have been tightly controlled by government, are slowly opening. Once known as the Land of Morning Calm, the country is now the scene of traffic jams, but at least signs are in English.

San Diego Population 1,149,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 101 Cities served nonstop (flights) 36 Annual office rental rates per square foot $17 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

A supercomputer center, San Diego also has a concentration of telecommunications companies that make it a center for the infobahn -- and explains why Sorrento Valley is called "Telecom Valley." Fittingly, the county has more miles of fiber-optic cable installed underground, some 75,000 miles' worth, than any other county in the U.S., and the most personal computers per capita. The city gets great weather year-round, which makes it all the easier to enjoy the bay.

Shanghai Population 7,496,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 133 Cities served nonstop (flights) 30 Annual office rental rates per square foot $41.50 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

The largest and most vibrant metropolis in the People's Republic of China is recovering its role as a mighty international trading port and manufacturer. The Pudong area, which is about the size of Rhode Island, is being developed for business. Shanghailanders are the most cosmopolitan and entrepreneurial people in China. The whole city seems like a big construction site these days. No doubt, it is a potential economic powerhouse.

Sao Paulo Population 7,032,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 131 Cities served nonstop (flights) 57 Annual office rental rates per square foot $21.19 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Sao Paulo is Brazil's thermometer, and the temperature is rising. As the entry point for new business and products, the city seems to breed entrepreneurs. The local motor industry -- Volkswagen, GM, and Ford all operate factories -- is thriving. The city itself is expanding at such a rate that it seems likely to swallow the surrounding towns and countryside. This spells opportunity for companies interested in building the infrastructure.

Stockholm Population 684,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 154 Cities served nonstop (flights) 68 Annual office rental rates per square foot $21.34 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Few arriving here expect this brilliant city of canals, a Venice of the north built on a string of islands. Stockholm is the biggest city in northern Europe, which explains why Westerners trying to do business in this part of the world come here. Additional benefits include the reopening of the Bromma airport and the fact that except for Volvo, all of Sweden's big multinationals (telephone maker Ericsson and white-goods giant Electrolux, among others) are headquartered here.

Seattle Population 520,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 101 Cities served nonstop (flights) 71 Annual office rental rates per square foot $18 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

As Boeing goes, so goes Seattle. Right now, America's largest exporter seems to have a hit with its new 777s, which are being ordered at $120 million each by British Air, Thai Airways International, Cathay Pacific, and other global carriers. Microsoft and Nordstrom are also headquartered here. Geographically oriented magnet schools study different regions of the world in depth, reflecting Seattle's dependence on exports. Living is easy, if soggy.

Sydney Population 3,538,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 119 Cities served nonstop (flights) 61 Annual office rental rates per square foot $41.61 Openness to other cultures 2 globes

Australia's best city for business is trying to get out the word that this is the place for companies eyeing opportunities in the Asean countries, nations linked by a treaty that includes Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Many Australians are familiar with the inside workings of these countries. The 2000 Olympics will leave better infrastructure and more hotel space. Sydney's beaches, opera house, and general ambiance need no improvement.

Taipei Population 2,717,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 170 Cities served nonstop (flights) 28 Annual office rental rates per square foot N.A. Openness to other cultures 4 globes

A former backwater, the capital of what is still officially called the Republic of China has become an energetic arena for international business. It's gritty and noisy, especially with the construction of a subway system and new traffic fly-overs. This ugly city is working hard to look better. Feisty small businesses, fired by the famous Chinese entrepreneurialism, set the pace. Gradual relaxation of government controls makes it an increasingly open city for trade.

Vienna Population 1,539,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 163 Cities served nonstop (flights) 53 Annual office rental rates per square foot $24.50 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Paradoxically, the collapse of the Iron Curtain has hurt Vienna's standing as middleman to Eastern Europe. Suddenly businesses can locate directly in Prague, say, or Budapest. Still, the city remains a practical alternative to actually living in an emerging market. Comfortable villas within easy reach of downtown are easy to find, while opera and other music abound. But frankly, many foreigners complain that something is missing -- excitement.

Tampa Population 285,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 93 Cities served nonstop (flights) 51 Annual office rental rates per square foot $13.50 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

While Miami sees itself as the link to the Caribbean and South America, Tampa likes the look of Mexico. It has designated its conference center a free-trade zone and played matchmaker between a number of visiting Mexican companies and potential U.S. partners. Tampa is also home to various back- office operations, including insurance claims processing. Its bay, which ( faces the gulf, makes this the only Best City where you can fish for tarpon downtown.

Warsaw Population 1,653,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 135 Cities served nonstop (flights) 24 Annual office rental rates per square foot $52.42 Openness to other cultures 1 globe

No one would mistake the Polish capital for a beautiful place. Yet more and more Western businessmen see this as where to be. The reason? Poland. The first former communist country to bite the reform bullet is the first to come out of the ensuing recession. The economy grew at more than 3% in 1993, one of the fastest rates in Europe. Disadvantages include high prices and interminable winters. A huge enclosed business center, some of it to open next year, may ease both.

Tel Aviv Population 353,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 130 Cities served nonstop (flights) 18 Annual office rental rates per square foot $23.15 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Tel Aviv is a media capital where publications and broadcasts are churned out in the various languages of the more than 100 nationalities that make up Israel's citizenry. The fact that Israel has more scientists and engineers per capita than any other country (three times as many as the U.S.) has made Tel Aviv attractive to high-tech multinationals such as IBM and Motorola. But all the hubbub has resulted in traffic and parking hell.

Washington Population 585,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 101 Cities served nonstop (flights) 97 Annual office rental rates per square foot $32 Openness to other cultures 4 globes

No surprise, this is the place many foreigners feel they have to come to if they are to press the flesh of those who can get things done. Some of that is true: the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, the EPA, and various other government agencies are the folks overseeing the export of all kinds of biotech and medical research produced across the entire U.S. Close at hand, Georgetown University's medical center produces just this sort of valuable research.

Tokyo Population 8,129,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 260 Cities served nonstop (flights) 75 Annual office rental rates per square foot $144.98 Openness to other cultures 3 globes

Expensive, but everything works almost perfectly. Even the spotless subways keep to a timetable. People can walk on any street without fear of being robbed. This sprawling city is really a collection of virtual villages, each of which specializes in government, entertainment, or various kinds of business. Surprisingly, executives do not place this city among those with the most entry barriers. For all its modernity, though, it's thoroughly Japanese -- in language and business practices.

Zurich Population 343,000 Cost-of-living index (U.S.=100) 187 Cities served nonstop (flights) 82 Annual office rental rates per square foot $21.30 Openness to other cultures 5 globes

The Swiss economic motor is an overgrown village with the advantages of a big city. It has four of the world's top 500 banks, two of its top 500 companies -- and a whopping per capita income of $36,320. Most of all, it is very Swiss, i.e., very functional. The airport is a joy, the roads are unclogged, and for cleanliness, you can't do better. In winter the Alps offer skiing, and in summer the lakes support water sports. Who cares if this isn't the most culturally stimulating place on earth?