Colonial First State Global Asset Management has hired three people to manage emerging markets debt investments and may hire more people to focus on the world’s fastest growing economies.

Manuel Canas and Jan Markus May have been hired as senior portfolio managers. Canas will focus on Latin America. May will research Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.

Philip Fielding has been hired as a portfolio manager. He will be responsible for Central Europe, the Baltics, Turkey and South Africa.

The three men report to Helene Williamson, head of global emerging markets debt. She was hired in September.

Colonial First State Global Asset Management’s emerging markets debt team will be assisted by their Australian and Hong Kong-based fixed income investing colleagues.

“Emerging markets debt is certainly an area where Australian funds are increasingly looking at,” says Joanna Davison, regional managing director Australia and New Zealand at Colonial First State Global Asset Management.

“Would you rather be in Indonesian bonds than Italian bonds?” She asks.

Davison does not rule out the possibility of hiring more emerging markets investment specialists saying it is a “possibility.” Colonial First State Global Asset Management employs about 230 people.

The unit of Australia’s largest lender, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, had $143 billion in funds under management as of September 30.