JAKARTA, Indonesia (By The Jakarta Globe) -- Sinar Mas Group, one of Indonesia's largest conglomerates, says the pulp and paper mill it plans to build in Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra, will help Indonesia compete globally.

The mill, which will be operated by Sinar Mas subsidiary OKI Pulp & Paper Mills, will be the largest in Asia, the company says, and is scheduled to start operating in 2016 or 2017.

"The mill will help Indonesia's pulp and paper industry compete globally. We are now ranked 8th but we have the capability to be in the top three," Sinar Mas Managing Director Gandi Sulistyanto told news portal Tempo.co on Monday.

OKI is a subsidiary of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), Sinar Mas' pulp and paper holding company and one of the world's largest in the industry. OKI focuses on producing tissue paper, packaging and other paper products. APP's products are sold in more than 120 countries across all six inhabited continents.