Drop Shipper Earnings ?

I have seen various websites including ebay and many shopping carts and have come to know about dropshipping. I am from India. when I saw the prices, I was stumped. I thought I cannot supply at these prices from India. As the courier charges are very high. I want to do business of Computer Hardware supplies and other shopping cart items (examples: including jewellery, clothes, other miniature profitable items also)

I am wondering how can i do it internationally with the help of dropshipper. Do I need to keep inventory with the dropshipper ? do i have to invest for inventory initially ? Any serious trader and actively involved in selling through dropshipper outside US, please comment and help me.

Can I do this business with the help of US supplier, like directly purchasing from them and shipping in US ? In this case I want to receive payment first and then I will release the payment to the supplier while shipping (is it possible ?)

I would further like to elaborate, that I have zen cart. I am not interested in affiliate marketing. I want to use zen cart and receive sales through the zen cart from my website, and when the sale close, i should receive the payment first to release to the supplier for shipping. If you know any dropshipper who update zen cart on periodical basis automatically for products and gives me sales notification for every sale, it is most welcome. Preferably I want prices for shipping worldwide. Like suppose if I receive any order from India, the US supplier should be able to supply to india at the same price. I mean the shipping should be valid worldwide.

Please help and guide me, I am confused how to do it successfully...

Thank you in anticipation for the time taken out for me....