In recent decades Chile has experienced significant economic growth as a result of democratic reforms and opening the economy to global markets. Much of this economic growth has come from the ability to capture foreign markets by the natural resource firms of Chile and by first stage processors of these resources. These essentially rural industries support urban development and efforts by government to improve social conditions for Chileans. However, the ability of government to assure additional growth in primary industries and to provide a better quality of life in all parts of the national territory is impeded by the lack of a comprehensive national rural development policy.