The government hopes to achieve 4.5 to 5.5% economic growth in the year 2013 and believes this year's growth will be around 5%, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Sunday.
Ms Yingluck said in the year to come the government would aim to create a balance between export and domestic growth from the present ratio of 70:30.
Since uncertainties still prevail in the world economy, greater efforts would be made to stimulate domestic economic growth and to make the most use of opportunities to come with the establishement of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) and various free trade areas.
In its handling of the overall economy, the government would be financially and fiscally disciplined, to keep the public debt at a proper level, and to make the most use of the national budget, the prime minister said.
She said the government would proceed with zoning of agriculture areas to increase productivity and farmers' income and stabilise farm prices.
It would also proceed with increasing use of substitute or alternative energy and improving the quality of life of children, women and the elderly.
The rice-pledging scheme would continue because it could provide solutions to farmers' problems. However, concerns and suggestions over the scheme raised by all sides would be considered by the Commerce Ministry.
On the situation in the southern border provinces, the government would step up efforts to create understanding with the people along with development work by creating economic areas because not all districts are plagued with violence.
A bigger budget and manpower as well as more equipment would be provided for the troubled areas, she said.
The prime minister said during its 18 months in office the government had spent six months recovering the economy which was severely affected by the floods in late 2011 and four months to prepare the annual budget. It had only eight months to implement policies as promised to the people.
On her leadership, Ms Yingluck said it would take time for her to prove and adjust herself since she was still new to politics.
She said she had not been discouraged by criticism but would continue to improve herself. The people would make the judgement on her capability, she added.