The territories of the special economic status are one of the main instruments of regulation of spatial development of national economies. In relation to the economy of a particular region the use of this instrument is not sufficiently developed. This paper proposes criteria for the establishment of territories with a special economic status at the level of the subject of the Russian Federation. Collectively, these criteria define the competitive advantages of this territory in-relation to other administrative-territorial formations of the region. It also describes how to create investment vehicle of such a territory. The proposed list of instruments investment mechanism is intended to provide not only attraction of investments, but also creates conditions for successful implementation of investment projects on the territory of the region with the special economic status. Grouping is made of these instruments, reflecting their contents and peculiarities of application in terms of regional development areas.