Possible Clues:

• "Glad some progress has been made"
• Opening remark?
• "Some progress is better than none"
• "We've made some progress," and what one might say about the answer to each starred clue
• 'Some progress is better than none'
• ''That's great, but keep going''
• Initial encouragement
• 'Good first step'
• "Good first step"
• 'That's fine, but more is needed'