日本殖民統治下的打狗港，在控制與分配殖民地資源的政策考量下，臺灣總督府所選定其為南部主要的進出口貿易港。築港工程不僅使得打狗港轉變成為現代化港口，也為高雄地區帶來工商業發展的契機。隨著高雄港的重要性日益增加，加上港口管理制度的影響及臺灣工業化的政策推展，使高雄地區逐漸建設成為臺灣重化工業與軍需工業的核心。

During Japanese colonial period , the Taiwan Governor General office considered the conformity and distribution of resources in Taiwan, that it is selected Kaohsiung port to be the main trade port in southern Taiwan.The construction of Kaohsiung port not only made it be transformed into a modern port, but also bring commercial and industrial development in Kaohsiung city. Along of the growing importance of Kaohsiung port, plus the impact of the port management system and policies to promote industrialization of Taiwan, the Kaohsiung city became heavy and military industry center in Taiwan.