Kaohsiung's sea-air advantages, vast southern metropolitan hinterland, and high-quality labour force make it the number-one choice for a partner for multi-national enterprises and local entrepreneurs alike. At this crucial moment to become an internationalized city, Kaohsiung is trying to keep up with the rapid changes of business and set up a pro-business ambience, and its centennial planning regarding waterfront advantages and High Speed Railway will facilitate the formation of “Western Corridor One-Day Life Cluster”. With regional sea-air advantages, Kaohsiung can develop industries concerning aircraft manufacture, and maintenance and logistics for the Asia-Pacific region. With help from the Export Manufacturing Area and the Southern Scientific Park Area, value-added exports can be achieved; the free trade harbour area can be used to develop global value-added industries. Like Hong Kong's ‘Front-Shop-Back-Factory' goods relay station and distribution centre, Kaohsiung 's global competitiveness can be greatly enhanced.

In order to balance developmental differences between the city and the harbour, improving Kaohsiung Harbou's operational efficiency and effectiveness through industry upgrades is an issue of great urgency. After the passing of the ‘Free-Trade Harbour Area Establishment Management Statute', the free-trade harbour area was officially operational in 2005; three park areas, namely Nanzi, Kaohsiun, and Seaside Industrial have been applied for and are under evaluation by the Ministry of Economy. In the future, designated warehouse/transfer areas will be promoted, applications from multi-national enterprises allowed, and peripheral businesses/investments like tourism, manufacturing, and finance in the free-trade area expanded; more diverse career opportunities will ensue.

Meanwhile, the Kaohsiung Mayor and his group have smoothed out various problems this year and restarted projects like the “Kaohsiung Multi-Purpose Economy and Trade Park Area”, the “Software Scientific Park Area, Taiwan Sugar Corporation Logistic Park Area, the Biotechnology Park Are” and “Establishment of a Cultivation Centre”. From north to south, a new business corridor will be built for Kaohsiung. Also, through encouraging foreign investors and private investment with incentives, the capabilities of investment recruitment, research and development will be increased.

Concurrently, with help from development projects like the Intercontinental/ International Container Centre, the Harbour Business Area and the International Professional Logistic Centre, Kaohsiung City will be transformed, in the next few years, into a planning and management centre with transportation, logistics, and manufacturing-transfer capabilities.