Thailand's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 4 percent in 2014 thanks to export expansion.

Thailand's exports are forecast to grow by 6 percent this year to amount to nearly 239 million USD, while imports are expected to increase by 5 percent to approximately 230 million USD, a senior World Bank economist said on February 11.

The economist said there are still risks that could derail economic expansion, including the high level of household debt and delays in government investment in infrastructure development projects, adding that ongoing political instability could also erode investors' confidence.

The Thai economy expanded by only 3 percent in 2013 as a result of sharply declining exports as well as a slowdown in household consumption and private investment.

The same day, caretaker Finance Minister Kittiratt na Ranong said rice farmers who have joined the government’s rice-pledging programme will get paid in several days.

The programme allows farmers to sell rice to the government at 500 USD per tonne, two times higher than the market price. The government’s payment, however, has been suspended since late last month due to the dismissal of the parliament in December 2013.-VNA