I'd also like to be able to more easily distribute minerals around my empire. For instance, if I build something but don't have the resources for it, civilian transports will automatically be contracted to pick them up from either the system, sector, or empire in that order.
I would also like to be able to create our own, empire controlled, shipping line, where we can put our own ships into and always prioritizes empire contracts. It would be a good place for us to dump old freighters and such and make planting multiple mining colonies so much easier, especially over multiple jumps.